Sat Mar 29 07:04:17 UTC 2025: ## Four Police Officers, Two Rebels Killed in Kashmir Gun Battle
**SRINAGAR, INDIA** – At least four Indian police officers and two suspected rebels have been killed in a gun battle in the Jammu region of Indian-administered Kashmir, officials said Saturday. The clash, which began Thursday near Kathua city, followed an ambush on a police patrol searching for militants.
The Indian Army’s Rising Star Corps announced the “elimination of two terrorists” on social media, a term frequently used to describe rebels fighting against Indian rule. A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the deaths of four police officers and stated that arms and ammunition, including grenades and assault rifles, were recovered from the scene.
Police Chief Nalin Prabhat accused the rebels, reportedly from Pakistan, of escaping a security cordon four days prior to the ambush. He vowed to continue operations against what he termed “neighbourly activities,” referring to Pakistan.
The incident is the latest in a decades-long conflict between rebel groups and Indian security forces in the disputed region. While violence has decreased in recent years, government data indicates at least 14 security personnel were killed in the first half of 2024, and 30 in 2023.
The conflict stems from the ongoing dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, with both nations claiming the territory. India accuses Pakistan of supporting the insurgency, while Pakistan denies involvement and claims to support Kashmir’s right to self-determination. Tensions have increased since 2019 following India’s revocation of Kashmir’s semi-autonomy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently reaffirmed this decision, stating that the region will operate solely under the Indian constitution.
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