4 Killed in Clashes in Kashmir

At least four people have been killed in separate incidents of gunfire and clashes in the Indian-administered region of Kashmir, according to local officials on Friday.

Indian military officials reported that two suspected militants were killed in a gun battle with paramilitary forces.

The exchange of fire occurred late on Thursday night when a joint team of soldiers and police raided a village near Sopore, located in the northwestern part of the region.

The operation was launched after receiving an intelligence tip-off about the presence of a militant group in the area.

The Indian Army confirmed in a statement that the militants opened fire indiscriminately on the security forces, which led to a firefight in which two militants were killed.

In a separate incident, two individuals affiliated with a government-backed militia were also killed by militants in another part of the disputed territory.

The violence in Kashmir has escalated in recent weeks, with clashes between security forces and militants becoming more frequent in the region.

This spike in tensions follows a period of relative calm, though the region has been plagued by instability and unrest for decades due to the ongoing territorial dispute between India and Pakistan.

Kashmir, which is claimed by both India and Pakistan, has long been a flashpoint for violence, with insurgent groups in the region calling for greater autonomy or independence.

The situation has also been exacerbated by India’s military presence, which remains a point of contention among locals and international observers.