Family fights back to militants in India-controlled Kashmir, kills one

One militant was killed and two of his associates were wounded in scuffle with a family in India-controlled Kashmir, police said on Tuesday.

The incident took place Sunday night in Rajouri village, 190 km northwest of Jammu, the winter capital of India-controlled Kashmir.

"One militant was killed and two of his associates were injured after a family fought back to them with axes. The family members particularly the women folk displayed extraordinary courage in hacking the militants," said S. A. Watali, Senior Superintendent of Police Rajouri.

The family stated militants had come to target two of its male members.

"After barging into our house the militants started beating us and in retaliation we fought back and snatched rifles from them besides attacking them with axes. After killing a militant and chasing out others, we along with our children took refuge in a nearby police station," said Waqalat Hussain, a family member.

Police also said the family snatched two assault rifles from the militants and handed them to police.

Police and paramilitary troopers have been dispatched to the area to launch a manhunt to trace other militants.

Militants in the region usually target families and individuals for their possible links with police and defense agencies.

In India-controlled Kashmir gun fighting between militants and Indian army troopers takes place intermittently.

Police and defense officials maintain that most of the times the operations triggering gun fights are carried out on prior information provided by informers about presence of militants in specific areas.

Meanwhile, a contingent of police has been deployed at the family's house to thwart further attacks from militants.