Four militants killed in Indian-controlled Kashmir

At least four suspected militants have been killed in a gun battle with Indian government troops after crossing into the New Delhi-controlled part of Kashmir.

The Indian military said fighting began early on Saturday when soldiers intercepted heavily armed militants along the highly militarized de facto border that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

Colonel Rajesh Kalia, an Indian army spokesman, said the operations were still ongoing in the area, adding that government forces suffered no casualties.

India recently ordered security forces to halt their operations against rebels in the disputed Kashmir territory during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

New Delhi has deployed some 500,000 soldiers to the disputed region to further boost the security of the borderline and enforce a crackdown on pro-independence demonstrations in its share of Kashmir, where anti-India sentiments are high.

SS