Five Kashmir separatists killed by Indian forces

Five separatists were killed Wednesday in a dawn firefight with hundreds of troops in Indian-administered Kashmir, officials said.

According to AFP, the fatalities pushed the death toll during the current escalation -- which has ramped up since India's nationwide coronavirus lockdown started in late March -- to 14 people in four days.

The men, who were said to be in an underground hideout at an apple orchard near Sugoo village south of the main city of Srinagar, were surrounded by the troops before daybreak, a local police officer said.

"Five men were killed in the firefight that ensued. Their bodies and five weapons were retrieved from the site," army spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said.

Indian-administered Kashmir has been in turmoil since last August when New Delhi revoked its semi-autonomous status and imposed a communications blackout that has not been fully lifted.

At least 93 separatists, including six top commanders, have been killed by Indian forces since January.

SS