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India-Pakistan
After 66 hrs, Sopore gunbattle ends
2007-11-12
SRINAGAR: Sixty-six hours after it ensued, the gunbattle — one of the fieriest in the recent times — between the security forces and the holed-up terrorists in north Kashmir’s Sopore, ended with the killing of the second militant on Sunday.

The gunbattle started on Thursday when a group of LeT militants tried to storm a CRPF camp in Sopore but failed. Two of the terrorists then took shelter inside a nearby hotel, while the other two managed to flee. The security forces managed to kill a terrorist on Saturday, while the other holed-up militant continued to resist.
Posted by:john frum

#14  did they capture others?

The RR and the Kashmiri SOG police are not interested in prisoners.

I suspect a few of the terrorists got away before they could seal off the area. These areas are a warren of narrow streets and adjoining houses where terrorists can move quickly.
Posted by: john frum   2007-11-12 14:20  

#13  It took three days to get two guys?

They aren't allowed to use airpower and artillery and are severely restricted in their use of anti-tank weaponry and mortars in populated areas.
Many of these houses are very close together and the security forces tend to be cautious about collatoral damage to structures.

So they trade fire and do things the hard way, exposing themselves to harm.
It does mimimize civilian protests about their actions though. Hearts and Minds and all that.
Posted by: john frum   2007-11-12 14:18  

#12  None (in the first set of pictures) are actually Indian Army.

They appear to be a mix of Rashtriya Rifles (paramilitary counter insurgency), CRPF (Central Reserve Police) and Kashmiri Police (SOG unit).

The helmet is also used by the Army. It is a 'patka', originally intended for Sikh troops (can accomodate a small turban).
The patka doesn't provide adequate protection on top.
Posted by: john frum   2007-11-12 14:14  

#11  John F. who are the Indian forces with the non-standard helmet? Para?
Posted by: Thomas Woof   2007-11-12 11:41  

#10  Did they only get the three whose bodies are shown, or did they capture others?
Posted by: trailing wife   2007-11-12 10:57  

#9  I don't see any reports of Indian soldiers getting killed, so they did well. Good job guys putting the rabid dogs down.
Posted by: DarthVader   2007-11-12 09:21  

#8  It wasn't your ordinary rabbit . . . .
Posted by: gorb   2007-11-12 07:27  

#7  It took three days to get two guys?
Posted by: Glenmore   2007-11-12 07:17  

#6  They are available to the MSM but you typically won't see them because, well, these poor Pakistani guys are oppressed Muslims, and 'rebels', and 'militants' and such. And India is oppressing their human rights and all that....
Posted by: john frum   2007-11-12 06:54  

#5  I figgered that, but still ... Thanks for sharing! We'd be lucky to see one of those pics in the WaPo - if I read it, that is.
Posted by: Bobby   2007-11-12 06:25  

#4  These are wire service pictures
Posted by: john frum   2007-11-12 06:15  

#3  Heavens to Mergatroid, John! Are you right in the middle of this?
Posted by: Bobby   2007-11-12 06:07  

#2  









An Indian army soldier looks at the bodies of suspected militants in camp after a gun battle in Pattan 27 km (16 miles) north of Srinagar, November 9, 2007.

Posted by: john frum   2007-11-12 05:42  

#1  





An Indian policemen takes position during a gun battle in Sopore 52 km (32 miles) north of Srinagar, November 9, 2007. The ongoing gun battle between police and two suspected Muslim militants who took refuge inside a hotel after a failed attempt to storm a paramilitary camp on November 8, in the north of Srinagar









An Indian policeman takes position as dust and smoke rise from a building which Indian soldiers stormed with explosives during a gun battle in Sopore, some 55 kms north of Srinagar




Posted by: john frum   2007-11-12 05:39  

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