KASHMIR - Gun battles leave 20 dead

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BBC Kashmir gun battles leave 20 dead

Indian soldiers have fought fierce gun battles

Security forces in Indian-administered Kashmir have killed 20 Muslim militants in gun battles.

The army said a group of militants opened fire on Indian troops in the Poonch district, some 500km south-west of the state capital Jammu.

After several hours of fierce fighting near the line of control that divides the territory between India and Pakistan, the Indian troops recovered 20 bodies.

According to Indian TV reports, the militants were members of the Harakatul Mujahideen and the Tehrikul Jehad groups.

The army also said Pakistani forces shelled the area to help the militants escape.

Two people, including an army officer, were reported injured during the shelling.

Escalating violence

The latest battles follow reports to the Reuters news agency that four militants were killed on Thursday in a clash with security forces near Kalaban, some 180km north of Jammu.

Also on Thursday, according to Indian police, three separatist militants and two Indian soldiers were killed in a gun battle in the Rajouri district southwest of Srinagar.

Separatist violence in Kashmir has intensified since the US-led campaign against Afghanistan.

Earlier this week, a senior Indian military commander, General R.K. Nanavatty warned that the situation in Kashmir was similar to that in 1965, when India went to war with Pakistan over the disputed territory.

-- Anonymous, November 03, 2001


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