Eight militants and a policemen were killed in gunfights in Kashmir Friday, officials said. Indian troops posted on the line of control spotted a group of militants trying to infiltrate into India-administered Kashmir in the Machil sector of Kupwara district, dpa quoted defence spokesman GS Brar as saying. The line of control divides the disputed Kashmir region in two parts, one administered by India, the other by Pakistan. "The group of infiltrators was surrounded and challenged, upon which they opened fire, triggering a gunfight at the end of which five infiltrators were killed," Brar said. In a separate incident, three militants and a policeman were killed during a gunbattle in Akhal village of northern Kashmir's Ganderbal district. Troops and the police surrounded a house in the village after receiving information that a group of militants had taken shelter there, superintendent of police Imtiaz Hussein Mir said. "The militants opened fire leading to a gunbattle. Bodies of three militants were found at the site," Mir said. A policemen was also killed in the encounter. Over 45,000 people, including civilians, militants and security forces personnel have been killed in a militant secessionist movement in India-administered Kashmir that peaked in the late 1980s. India accuses Pakistan of aiding the militants. Pakistan has denied the charge, calling them freedom fighters.
