Four killed in Kashmir violence

Three rebels and one civilian were killed in violence in Indian Kashmir yesterday, police said, two days after soldiers killed five fighters along the de-facto border with Pakistan.

Inspector general of police Muneer Ahmed Khan said soldiers and police cordoned off a residential area after receiving information there were armed militants there. Ensuing gunfight then killed the 3 militants, he added.

The deaths sparked clashes between government forces and residents of the area, near the town of Tral, where locals threw stones and shouted slogans against Indian rule.

A police officer later confirmed that a teenager struck by pellets fired by security forces died in hospital from his injuries.