Four Indian soldiers and five freedom fighters have been killed in fresh clashes in held Kashmir, police said on Wednesday. Three separate clashes occurred in the northern districts of Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipora, a police spokesman said, adding that two of the gun-battles that started overnight were still raging.
"Troop reinforcements have been sent to Bandipora as freedom fighters and Indian soldiers are engaged in a fierce encounter," a police officer Muzaffer Ahmed said, adding that the fighting erupted after soldiers raided a freedom fighters' hideout. "Soldiers are evacuating villagers from the adjoining houses before going for a final assault," Ahmed said.
Police said an army major and a special commando were among the dead and four other soldiers had been wounded. The past few months have witnessed fresh incidents of militants attempting to cross into India from Pakistan-administered Kashmir.