VOA标准英语2009年-Seven People Killed in Kashmir Violence

Fighting between suspected Muslim militants² and Indian troops in a forest area of Indian administered Kashmir has entered its fourth day on Sunday. The violence close to the line of control has claimed seven lives, including three security personnel.

Fighting between Indian security forces and suspected Muslim militants resumed at dawn Sunday after a night-long break. The violence began on Thursday, when Indian troops attacked suspected militant¹ hideouts in a mountainous forest area near Mendhar in Poonch district of Indian administered Kashmir.

The area is close to the line of control that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan. Officials say four militants have been killed in the fighting so far while two troops and a special police officer have also been killed.

The special police officer Naresh Kumar was the last to die on Saturday. The Indian wire agency Press Trust of India quoted unnamed officials as saying that up to ten militants were hiding in the area including some top commanders of two to three Muslim militant groups. It reported that heavy fog and low visibility were prolonging the encounter.

S. N. Acharya, an army spokesman in Jammu, said the exact number of militant was not known.

"The Encounter at Chattral area in Batidhar forests is still on. The Exact number [of militants] I don't have, but there may be a group of militants," said S. N. Acharya.

It is one of the longest skirmishes in recent months, and the first since the legislative³ elections in Indian administered Kashmir held in November and December.

The elections saw over 60 per cent turnout despite a boycott⁴ call by Kashmiri separatists, who argued that the polls strengthen India's hold over the disputed region.

The Kashmiri government is expected to assume office on Monday, when Omar Abdullah, a third generation politician, will take over as the chief minister of Indian administered Kashmir.

1 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

2 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

3 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

4 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。