Indian troops kill four militants in disputed Kashmir

Indian soldiers have killed at least four militants during a two-day gun battle near the heavily militarized de-facto border in Kashmir, known as the Line of Control (LoC), which divides the Himalayan region between India and Pakistan.

A police statement said on Monday that three militants had been killed Sunday at three different locations.

"With killing of all the three terrorists who appear to be Pakistanis, a major terrorist attack was averted," read the statement.

Colonel Rajesh Kalia, an Indian army spokesman, said Monday that the fourth militant had been killed during the search operation of the region.

Sources said that four civilians and a soldier were also wounded during the shoot-outs.

Indian soldiers launched a massive search operation after civilians tipped them off on Saturday about the movement of armed men near the Line of Control.

Last month, three militants attacked a police base in the southern part of Kashmir valley, killing eight Indian soldiers. The attackers were also killed in the firefight.

The Muslim-majority region has witnessed an increase in mass protests and violent attacks since early July 2016, when Burhan Wani, a top figure in a pro-independence group, was killed in a shoot-out with Indian troops.

SS