NEW DELHI, July 27 (Xinhua) -- An Indian army trooper was killed and another wounded Saturday in a fierce gunfight in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.
The gunfight broke out in the Machil sector near the Line of Control (LoC) in frontier Kupwara sector, about 136 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
According to officials, a gunfight between militants and government forces erupted after Indian army troopers deployed in the area detected the movement of suspected militants. The troopers challenged the militants, who resorted to firing which was duly responded.
A statement issued by the Indian army said one soldier was killed and another was wounded during the intense fire exchange.
The army said it recovered weapons, ammunition and war-like stores from the spot and identification and affiliation of the Pakistani national were being ascertained.
However, multiple local media reports said a soldier was killed and four others were wounded in a gunfight. While the wounded soldiers have been evacuated for treatment, the operation against the militants in the area is underway.
There has been an increase in militant attacks in the Loc region recently. On Wednesday an Indian army trooper and a militant were killed in a similar gunfight in the district. ■