2 militants killed in Kashmir on Eid's second day

SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir

At least two militants in Indian-administered Kashmir were killed on the second day of Eid al-Fitr, a three-day Muslim festival that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Vijay Kumar, inspector general of the police in the region, said the gunfight took place in southern Kulgam district and that the operation was still underway.

“Two unidentified militants killed in an encounter at Khud, Hanjipora area of Kulgam. Incriminating material including arms and ammunition recovered. Search continues,” the Kashmir zone police said on Twitter.

On May 19, Junaid Sehrai, the divisional commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, and another militant were killed in a gunfight in Srinagar. Around 15 residential houses got damaged in the gunfight.

Also, Riyaz Naikoo, a top commander of the rebel group, was also killed earlier this month.

As many as 75 militants have been killed since the beginning of the year, according to a police source.

Last week, Dilbagh Singh, the police chief in the region, said in a news conference that 95 militants and their associates have been arrested since the start of the year.

- Disputed region

Kashmir is held by India and Pakistan in parts and claimed both in full. A small sliver of Kashmir is also held by China.

Since they were partitioned in 1947, the two countries have fought three wars -- in 1948, 1965 and 1971 -- two of them over Kashmir.

Some Kashmiri groups in Jammu and Kashmir have been fighting against Indian rule for independence, or unification with neighboring Pakistan.

According to several human rights organizations, thousands of people have reportedly been killed in the conflict in the region since 1989.