Indian troops martyr 3 senior freedom fighters

Indian forces have martyred a top Kashmiri commander and his two associates in an operation in Indian-occupied Kashmir, police claimed Wednesday.

Hamid Lelhari and his associates were martyred Tuesday evening in a gunfight that erupted after Indian forces launched an operation in southern Awantipora area, said Dilbagh Singh, chief of police in Indian-occupied Kashmir.

Police caimed Lelhari became the operations chief of Ansar Ghawzat-ul-Hind, after Indian troops martyred a top fighter, Zakir Musa, last year.

Singh said the group has been wiped out in occupied Kashmir with Tuesday's killings.

Indian forces suffered no casualties or injuries in the fighting, he said.