Six ‘militants’ killed in overnight battle on Kashmir border

Six suspected Pakistani terrorists and an army officer were killed in a fierce battle near the heavily militarised line of control dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan, Indian army officials said today.

The fighting began after soldiers intercepted a group of heavily armed militants entering the Indian side of the disputed Himalayan region from the Pakistani section in the Handwara region, said army spokesman Lt Col Nitin N Joshi.

Three terrorists were killed, which is in addition to three slain on Tuesday when the fighting started, Joshi added.

An Indian Army officer speaking on the customary condition of anonymity said an Indian officer was also killed and a soldier wounded.

There was no independent confirmation of the fighting and no rebel group fighting Indian rule has issued any statement.

Rebels have been fighting against Indian rule since 1989. More than 68,000 people have been killed in the uprising and Indian military crackdown.

Suspected rebels also hurled a grenade at a group of paramilitary soldiers and police in the Pulwama area on Wednesday, police said. Four soldiers, a policeman and a civilian were wounded in that attack.

Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan. The neighbours have fought three wars, two of them over control of Kashmir, since they won independence from British colonial rule in 1947.