Five Indian forces among 10 killed in held Kashmir gun battle

Suspected militants attacked Indian security forces carrying out a search operation in forests around Kupwara

SRINAGAR: Five Indian soldiers and five suspected militants were killed in a gun battle near Srinagar on Wednesday, a senior police official said.

The militants attacked security forces carrying out a search operation in forests around Kupwara, 95km north of Srinagar, the summer capital of occupied Kashmir, said Shamsher Hussain, senior superintendent of police in Kupwara.

"Indian troops killed five armed militants," he said.

Four soldiers martyred in cross-LoC fire

"At least one more militant is still fighting," the officer said. Indian army spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia confirmed that firing was still going on in the area.

Armed encounters between rebels and government forces are also frequent. The Indian army killed more than 200 suspected rebels last year during what they claimed a 'counter-insurgency' offensive dubbed "Operation All Out".