SRINAGAR, India -- Gunmen disguised as Indian soldiers opened fire on a car Friday in Indian-controlled Kashmir, killing a passenger and triggering a firefight with army troops, authorities said.
At least three gunmen fired on the vehicle in the Dayalchak area, about 340 kilometres south of Srinagar, a police officer said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Three passengers were wounded.
The assailants sped away in the car, but army troops intercepted them about 30 kilometres away, the officer said. The ensuing gunbattle lasted at least three hours.
No other details were released. It was not clear who was behind the attack or why.
The divided Kashmir region, claimed by both India and Pakistan, sees flares of violence as anti-India rebels step up demands for independence or incorporation into Pakistan.
About 68,000 people have been killed since 1989 in an armed uprising and subsequent crackdown by Indian forces. While the rebellion has largely been suppressed, anti-India resentment still runs deep.
