Three Indian army soldiers and a civilian have been killed after a patrolling party in Shopian district of Indian occupied Kashmir was ambushed by Kashmiri fighters on Thursday. The Kashmiri freedom fighters attacked the Indian security forces party which was going for a cordon and search operation in Chittargam area of Shopian, a police official was quoted as saying by the Indian media.

The civilian killed was a woman who was hit by a stray bullet, officials confirmed. The attackers have reportedly managed to escape. The Indian army has lost 26 soldiers in the first two months of 2017 in IHK. Indian Intelligence reports suggest that many youths -approximately 100 - have joined militancy after the killing of Hibzul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani last year, prompting security forces to launch proactive operations in recent times.

Copyright Independent News Pakistan, 2017