South Asia News
Four rebels killed by security forces in Indian Kashmir
Nov 1, 2010, 13:21 GMT
Srinagar, Kashmir - At least four Muslim separatist militants were killed in separate gunbattles with security forces in India-administered Kashmir on Monday, police said.
The gunbattles took place in the northern Kupwara and southern Kulgam districts in the insurgency-torn Kashmir valley, after troopers spotted a group of militants in the Bhawan forests in Kupwara late Sunday.
'Two militants were killed in the combat that continued till the early hours on Monday,' a police spokesman said.
Automatic weapons and explosives were recovered from the area, located about 100 kilometres north-west of state capital Srinagar.
A joint police and army team was involved in another gunbattle with rebels in the Kulgam district later on Monday afternoon.
Two militants belonging to the Lashkar-e-Taiba - the biggest militant outfit active in the region - were killed in the encounter, the official said.
Over 45,000 people, including civilians, militants and security forces personnel have been killed in a militant secessionist movement in India-administered Kashmir that peaked in the late 1980s.
India accuses Pakistan of aiding the militants. Pakistan has denied the charge, calling the combatants freedom fighters.
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