SRINAGAR: Indian forces have killed eight fighters in held Kashmir, including two who were in a mosque, officials said on Friday.

The new fatalities following gun battles on Thursday and Friday take the death toll of fighters to over 100 this year, officials said.

India-held Kashmir has been in turmoil since last August when New Delhi revoked its semi-autonomous status and imposed a communications blackout that has not been fully lifted.

One gun battle at Neej, near Srinagar, led to the death of one fighter and a night-long standoff with two others who were inside a mosque, officials said.

Security forces used “tear smoke shells” on the mosque and later “neutralised” the two inside, inspector general of police Vijay Kumar said in a Twitter statement.

There were no immediate independent accounts of the incident.

Security forces also killed five fighters who were holed up in an underground shelter in an apple orchard in Shopian district, security officials said.

The shootouts have also sparked clashes between government forces and villagers who support the fighters.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2020