Four soldiers, five militants killed in Kashmir gunbattle

Nov 9, 2007, 10:09 GMT

Srinagar, Kashmir - At least five suspected Muslim militants and four Army personnel, including an officer, were killed in a gunbattle in India-administered Kashmir, officials said Friday.

The gunbattle erupted in the Pattan area of the Baramulla district, 60 kilometres west of the state capital Srinagar after the militants opened fire on the soldiers late Tuesday.

An officer of the Rashtriya Rifles unit and a militant were killed Friday morning in the 60-hour-long encounter, a senior Army officer said, requesting anonymity.

Two militants and three soldiers were killed in the battle Wednesday while two more militants were killed Thursday.

'The Army major was shot dead by his own colleague by mistake,' the officer said. 'The long-drawn gunbattle has ended, and we are conducting search operations in the neighbouring places to ensure the area is free of militants.'

More than a dozen soldiers were injured and were moved to an Army-run hospital after the battle.

Separatist rebels have been fighting Indian rule for years in Kashmir, which is divided into two regions - one administered by India and the other by Pakistan.

According to India's Home Ministry, more than 40,000 people were killed in the state from 1990 to 2006, including more than 13,000 civilians and 4,000 security force personnel.

India and Pakistan have fought two wars over the disputed region since their independence from British rule in 1947.

India has often accused Pakistan of aiding and abetting Kashmiri militants, a charge Islamabad denies. Pakistan calls Kashmiri militants freedom fighters.