Four Indian soldiers killed in clashes with Kashmir militants

This is the second attack in as many days to target telecommunication businesses in the disputed region

SRINAGAR: Four soldiers were killed on Monday in two separate skirmishes with suspected militants in Indian Kashmir, officials said, shortly after a mobile phone shop employee was killed in another attack in the disputed region.

A military spokesperson said that three soldiers had been killed in a firefight when suspected militants were allegedly trying to cross into Tangdhar in India, 180 kilometres (110 miles) from the region's main city of Srinagar.

"During the firefight, four jawan (soldiers) sustained injuries,of which three succumbed and one is out of danger," NN Joshi said in a statement.

The attack came hours after another soldier was killed in a separate incident further south in Kulgam district.

Two suspected rebels were also killed in both incidents.

Mobile phone shopkeeper killed

Also on Monday, a mobile phone shop employee was gunned down when another group of suspected militants attacked a shop in the northern town of Sopore, around 35 kilometres from Sringar.

"An employee of a telecoms franchisee was killed while two others were injured when militants fired upon (their)... office," a separate police statement said.

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Several rebel groups have been fighting Indian forces since 1989 for independence or a merger of the Himalayan territory with Pakistan.

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the two countries won independence from Britain in 1947.

Violence in the region has steadily declined during the last decade, but armed encounters between rebels and government forces still occur regularly.