SRINAGAR, Feb 8 (2002) – Security forces in Indian Kashmir on Friday surrounded a mosque in the region where at least three militants are believed to be hiding, a paramilitary spokesman said.
It is the second time in the past week that rebels have sought refuge in a mosque in the disputed Himalayan region, which is at the heart of a tense military standoff between India and Pakistan.
“During a routine cordon and search operation by security forces at Tutigund area at least three militants took shelter in a mosque today,” the spokesman said.
“Forces laid siege to the mosque and the entire area is still under cordon.”
A police official said militants and security forces exchanged fire twice, but there was no damage to the mosque.
On Monday, two members of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant group surrendered before Indian authorities after they holed up in a mosque for 30 hours near Sopore town in north Kashmir.
Last year the Indian army appealed to the public in the Himalayan region not to let guerrillas take shelter in mosques.
India is battling a rebellion in its part of disputed Kashmir and says Pakistan arms Muslim militants to fight its rule, a charge Islamabad denies.
India controls 45 percent of Kashmir, Pakistan rules over a third of the territory and China the rest.
Officials say more than 33,000 people have been killed in the scenic region since a rebellion broke out at the end of 1989. Separatists put the toll closer to 80,000.
