SRINAGAR, Dec 19: An Indian soldier and five militants were killed in gunbattles in occupied Kashmir, where troops patrolled deserted streets ahead of a planned anti-India rally, officials said on Friday.

Among those killed was a senior military commander for banned group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which India blamed for last month’s attacks on Mumbai, the Indian military said.

It identified him as Iqbal Malik, who it said was the LeT military commander for southern Kashmir. The military said Malik was killed with two other fighters when they became trapped in a cave during a gunbattle in mountains in Doda district south of Srinagar on Friday.

“Three LeT militants, including senior commander Iqbal Malik, who got holed up in a mountain cave were killed after a fierce eight-hour-long encounter today,” an army spokesman said.

The Indian soldier was also killed during the gunbattle at the cave, the spokesman said. Two militants were killed in another gunfight in northern Kashmir late on Thursday, he said.

In occupied Srinagar, meanwhile, shops, schools and government buildings were closed on Friday after the All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference called for a general strike in protest against the multi-phase elections.

Thousands of troops patrolled deserted streets and sealed off residential areas in an attempt to thwart a planned anti-election rally, local officials said.

“The elections have no legitimacy in Kashmir as they are being held in presence of over ten lakh (one million) troops. People have been coerced and lured to vote in the name of development and jobs,” said moderate Kashmiri leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

Farooq and hardline leader Syed Ali Geelani were placed under house arrest on Friday. Others have been detained since voting began last month.

Residents said they were being confined to their homes by the security forces, even though there was no formal curfew in force.

“The troops outnumber the population of Srinagar,” said Farooq.—Agencies

Opinion

Editorial

PTI in disarray
Updated 30 Nov, 2024

PTI in disarray

PTI’s protest plans came abruptly undone because key decisions were swayed by personal ambitions rather than political wisdom and restraint.
Tired tactics
30 Nov, 2024

Tired tactics

Matiullah's arrest appears to be a case of the state’s overzealous and misplaced application of the law.
Smog struggle
30 Nov, 2024

Smog struggle

AS smog continues to shroud parts of Pakistan, an Ipsos survey highlights the scope of this environmental hazard....
Solidarity with Palestine
Updated 29 Nov, 2024

Solidarity with Palestine

The wretched of the earth see in the Palestinian struggle against Israel a mirror of themselves.
Little relief for public
29 Nov, 2024

Little relief for public

INFLATION, the rate of increase in the prices of goods and services over a given period of time, has receded...
Right to education
29 Nov, 2024

Right to education

IT is troubling to learn that over 16,500 students of the University of Karachi (KU) have defaulted on fee payments...