Siege on Kashmir mosque lifted

Security forces lifted a siege on a mosque in northern India following a gun battle that left two suspected Islamic militants and a civilian dead, police said.

The militants had sought refuge in the mosque in Totigund, located in Kupwara district in the northern state of Kashmir.

The third victim, Asadullah Dar, was a Totigund resident who was caught in the cross fire.

"Two militants hiding in the mosque were killed in a fierce exchange of fire Friday night," said R.S. Bhullar, deputy inspector-general of the Border Security Force.

The two militants were identified by police as Ghulam Shakoor and Shabir, both residents of Sialkot, Pakistan, and belonging to a Pakistan-based militant organization, Jaish-e-Mohammed, a police official said.

Soldiers from the Border Security Force cordoned off the shrine after they were told by police that three militants were in the mosque.

Mr Bhullar said efforts were made to end the siege peacefully and a group of villagers led by Totigund headman and a Muslim cleric entered the mosque to try persuade the militants to surrender.

They refused and opened fire on security forces. The gun fight lasted nearly 10 hours and continued late into the night. The two militants were killed after army sharpshooters were called in to assist the Border Security Forces.

Witnesses said the mosque, suffered minor damage in the shootout.

"They were throwing grenades and firing at us from inside. But we were careful to avoid any damage to the building," said Mr Bhullar.

After the cordon around the mosque was lifted, the bodies were removed for forensic investigation.