SRINAGAR: Three Kashmiri militants were killed in a gunbattle with Indian forces early on Thursday as they tried to break through a security cordon in India-held Kashmir, according to the army.

Army spokesman Col Nitin N. Joshi said the fighting began late on Wednesday and an intermittent exchange of gunfire continued overnight in the southern town of Tral. He claimed the three belonged to Hizbul Mujahideen, the disputed region’s biggest militant group fighting against Indian rule.

Hundreds of residents chanting pro-freedom slogans tried to reach the site of the gunbattle in a show of solidarity with the militants. Police fired tear gas on Wednesday night and Thursday to disperse them.

No injuries were reported in clashes between rock-throwing protesters and government forces.

Security personnel allowed thousands of villagers to participate in the funerals of the three militants on Thursday amid a shutdown in Tral and neighbouring villages, nearly 40km south of Srinagar.

Public opposition to Indian rule remains widespread in the disputed region. More than 68,000 people have died in the conflict between militants and troops.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2016