Three soldiers in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) were killed during a gun battle in the disputed Himalayan region, the Army said on Thursday.

A defense spokesman said two army vehicles were conducting an operation in Rajouri district, south of Srinagar, the largest city in the occupied territory, when separatists fired at them. AFP,

“The troops suffered three fatal and three non-fatal casualties,” the spokesman said.

He said that army operation is going on in the area and detailed information of the incident is being ascertained.

Also read: Five Indian soldiers martyred in IIOJK firing

The fighting comes just days after India’s top court upheld a 2019 decision by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to revoke the limited autonomy of the Muslim-majority occupied territory.

Separatist groups have waged an insurgency in IIOJK since 1989, demanding independence or merger with Pakistan.

Thousands of civilians, soldiers and freedom fighters were killed in this conflict.

Last month, five Indian soldiers and two suspected separatists were killed in this area.