The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Srinagar

Two soldiers and a Muslim militant have been killed in a shootout in Indian Kashmir, the first violence since state elections in the Muslim-majority region, the army said Friday.

The fighting erupted late Thursday in the southern district of Poonch after Indian troops, acting on a tip-off, carried out a search operation of a densely forested area.

"As we closed in, the militants opened fire killing two of our soldiers," an army officer told AFP, asking not to be named.

He said one militant was killed in the return of fire. The violence was the first since the completion of seven-stage state elections on December 24. Despite a boycott call by separatists and militants more than 60 percent of voters took part.

The regional pro-India National Conference and India's ruling Congress party decided to form the government after polls produced a fractured legislature.

A Muslim insurgency in Indian Kashmir has claimed at least 47,000 lives in the past two decades.