Image copyright AP Image caption Pakistan and India have overlapping territorial claims in Kashmir

Seven suspected militants have been killed in two separate gun battles with security forces in Indian-administered Kashmir, authorities say.

The Indian army said four militants were shot dead in a clash in the state's Kupwara district on Sunday.

Another three rebels were killed after they tried to storm a government office in Poonch district.

A curfew has been in effect for over two months across Kashmir following an upsurge of violence since 9 July.

The protests were sparked by the killing of a popular militant leader. Burhan Wani, 22, died in a gunfight with the Indian army.

More than 70 people, mostly young men, have since been killed in clashes between protestors and security forces, and thousands more injured in the worst violence seen in the region for years.

On Sunday Indian soldiers killed four militants as they tried to cross the de-facto border that divides the disputed Himalayan region between India and Pakistan in Kupwara, an army official said.

"They tried to infiltrate into Nowgam sector (an area northwest of the main city of Srinagar) and were intercepted. Four militants were killed and their AK rifles were recovered," army spokesman NN Joshi told the AFP news agency.

Three other rebels were killed after they tried to enter a government office in Poonch. A policeman was also killed in the clash.

The clashes with militants came as stone-pelting residents protesting against Indian rule of the region clashed with security forces in Pulwana and two other places in the southern Kashmir valley, leaving many injured, police said.

Disputed Kashmir is claimed in its entirety by both India and Pakistan and has been a flashpoint for more than 60 years, sparking two wars between the countries.

Within the disputed Muslim-majority territory, some militant groups have taken up arms to fight for independence from Indian rule or a merger with Pakistan.</s>A militant was killed in a gun battle in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Monday. A senior police official told IANS that a gunfight started again at the site of Sunday’s firing in Poonch town.

“The building and adjacent areas were surrounded and exchange of fire was continuing between the security forces and some surviving militants still holed up in the building,” the official said.

In Pir Panchal Valley, militants, believed to be Lashkar-e-Taiba’s fresh infiltrators, opened fire around 7:30 a.m. on Sunday when a policeman spotted their movement.

The militants, were hiding in a school and an under construction government building near the Army's 93 Brigade headquarters.

One policeman, identified as Raj Kumar, died in the attack in which three militants were killed. Three persons, including a soldier, sustained injuries.</s>SRINAGAR, India, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Indian security forces killed seven militants in two gunbattles that also left a police officer dead in Kashmir on Sunday, as tensions in the region ratcheted higher and street protests against Indian rule grew.

Three of the militants were killed after they tried to storm the government secretariat in Poonch, near the de-facto border with Pakistan, which lays claims to the Himalayan region.

"One policeman was killed, while another police officer and civilian were injured as militants tried to storm the building. The police repulsed the attack and the militants took refuge in nearby buildings," said a senior police official, adding that the three militants were killed after a day-long gunbattle.

Separately, a senior army officer told Reuters that the army foiled two infiltration attempts by militants near the line of control with Pakistan. Four militants were killed in one of the gunbattles. Infiltrators attempting to cross the border were pushed back in the second clash in which no one was killed, authorities said.

Large swathes of Kashmir remain shut down for a third month, as Indian authorities struggle to contain violent demonstrations triggered by the killing by security forces in July of a young militant commander who was revered by some Kashmir youth.

On Saturday, two people were killed in new protests in Kashmir, taking the death toll to 75 since protesters took to the streets following the killing of Burhan Wani, the commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen group.

There was more trouble on Sunday when police fired tear gas to disperse a mob in Karimabad in southern Kashmir, and at least 50 people were injured in the clashes, the police control room said.

The violence in Indian Kashmir has reignited tensions with Pakistan as New Delhi blamed its neighbour for stoking further trouble there by pushing militants across the heavily militarised border that divides the region.

More troops have now been deployed on the Kashmir frontier to foil such infiltration attempts, officials said.

Pakistan denies giving material support to the Kashmir guerrillas but says it provides moral and diplomatic support in Kashmir's struggle for self-determination. (Reporting by Fayaz Bukhari; Writing by Sanjeev Miglani and Euan Rocha; Editing by Peter Cooney)</s>SRINAGAR, India (AP) — Police say fresh clashes have killed one protester and injured five in India's portion of Kashmir, as a security lockdown marred Eid festivities in the troubled region.

A police officer says security forces fired tear gas and shotgun pellets to quell protesters Tuesday in the Bandipora area of northern Kashmir and Shopian in the south. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to talk to reporters.

Shops and businesses were closed, with a curfew in effect in the entire Kashmir Valley. Most people remained indoors for the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha, which fell on Tuesday.

The region has been wracked by protests for two months following the killing of a rebel leader. Over 70 civilians have been killed and thousands wounded, mostly by government forces.</s>Militants open fire from an under-construction building near the Army’s 93 Brigade headquarters in Poonch town.

A policeman was killed on Sunday in a gun fight between security forces and militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, officials said.

Police said the militants started firing from an under-construction mini secretariat building near the Army’s 93 Brigade headquarters in Poonch town around 8 a.m.

“The militants have been surrounded and all escape routes were sealed,” a senior police officer told IANS, adding the gun fight was continuing.</s>Nearly 150 people were injured on Sunday after security forces fired tear gas shells, pellets and bullets at protesters during clashes at Kareemabad in Pulwama.

A senior police official said that the Army, alongside a special operation group of Jammu and Kashmir and CRPF personnel, rushed to the area after receiving credible information about the presence of militants.

He said that the Army cordoned-off the area while police and paramilitary forces carried out raids.

However, a large number of people blocked the road and threw stones at the policemen.

Clashes also broke out in Budgam and Kulgam, following which Army vehicles were deployed to maintain calm.

According to police sources, the government has given discretion to deputy commissioners and district police chiefs to seek assistance from the Army in case they apprehend large gatherings on Eid.

A senior police official said that the government had information that Eid marches on Tuesday could pose serious security challenges.

In a separate incident, one more youth succumbed to injury at Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar on Sunday morning.

The youth, identified as 16-year-old Javid Ahmad Dar, sustained injuries on August 05 during clashes.

Dr. Farooq Jan, medical superintendent of SKIMS, said, “A bullet had torn apart his popliteal artery, which runs in close proximity to the joint capsule of the knee.

"We tried to repair it, but he landed into acute renal failure.”

With this, the death toll in the Valley since July 8 has touched 80.

Expressing grief over the deaths, the National Conference said on Sunday that ‘brutality’ has become the official policy of the government.

“It is evident that brutality has become the official policy to deal with a political sentiment that finds its roots in a history of broken promises,” NC MLA Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi said.</s>4,000 additional troops pressed into service, but with clear instructions to use minimum force

As turbulence continues unabated in the Valley, the army has quietly moved an entire brigade into South Kashmir as part of operation ‘Calm Down’ to clear it of militants and protesters.

Amid intelligence reports of a virtual ‘Jungle Raj’ prevailing in the area, with militants and their sympathisers calling the shots, holding protests and blocking arterial roads, nearly 4,000 additional troops have been pressed into service to restore normalcy, but with clear instructions to use minimum force, official sources said.

The troops, mobilised from reserves have fanned out in all the four districts of South Kashmir — Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag and Kulgam. These districts have borne the brunt of the current spiral of violence in the Valley triggered by the encounter killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.

Wani hailed from this region. The army troops assisted by CRPF and the state police are combing the areas minutely and clearing the road blocks put by the protesters by felling trees, electric poles and placing huge boulders and burnt vehicles, to facilitate movement of people, they said.

After “clearing” Karimabad area of Pulwama, the troops have moved into Shopian and Kulgam. The process, which was halted briefly for Bakrid, will resume after the festival, sources said, adding more troops were likely to be pressed into service.

The decision was taken after intelligence reports claimed that Kashmiri youth, armed with batons, stones and petrol bombs, were patrolling the arterial roads leading to the National Highway and preventing people from venturing out of their homes or moving towards Srinagar.

There were reports that around 100 militants had crossed into South Kashmir since the unrest broke out after Wani’s killing on July 8.

Militant hideouts

 

 The areas where they were suspected to be hiding included Heff-Shrimal in Shopian district, Samboora, Lillahar, Pulwama town, Tral and Kakpora of Pulwama district, Qaimooh and Redhwani in Kulgam district and Redhwani in Anantnag district.

Dotted with poplar and pine trees, the adjoining jungles provide the militants a perfect setting for training recruits, officials said. There was information that militants were being trained in Kamla forest of Shopian district but when raids were conducted, nobody could be found.

According to reports, militants crossed over to Pulwama district of South Kashmir from Pakharpora of Budgam district in Central Kashmir and later fanned out to other areas facilitated by the absence of security personnel on ground, they said.</s>Indian Army personnel are moving en masse into trouble-torn J&K after another spate of violent protests.

As part of efforts to restore normalcy in the Valley, the Army has moved an entire brigade into South Kashmir under operation 'Calm Down' to clear it of militants and demonstrators.

Protesters have continued to clash with government forces since the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, who had a large social media following and was credited with reviving militancy in Kashmir.

Burhan Muzaffar Wani, popularly known as Burhan Wani, was a commander of the Azad Kashmir-based Hizbul Mujahideen. He was popular among the Kashmiris due to his activity on social media and posted many photos and videos against Indian rule in Kashmir. Born in Dadsara village, Burhan was the son of a Muzaffar Wani, a school principal and Maimoona Muzaffar, who gives Quran lessons in her village. Burhan fled from his home on 16 October 2010 and became a militant at the age of 15. He was killed in an encounter with the Indian security forces on 8 July 2016, which triggered widespread protests in the Kashmir valley. The protests following Burhan Wani death led to killing of more than 70 people while over 7,000 civilians and more than 4,000 security personnel were injured, which was believed to be the worst in the Valley. Burhan is considered a 'martyr' who laid his life for Kashmir's independence.

Sources say the redeployment of troops began after Army chief General Dalbir Singh's visit to J&K last.

The Centre has asked the Army to keep vigil at the border to prevent any further infiltration of militants.

Personnel have been instructed to maintain “maximum restraint” in view of the volatile situation in the Valley.

Army sources told Mail Today: “There is deployment of extra troops in South Kashmir border area and hinterland to mark presence. We have identified 10 major areas of concern specifically in South Kashmir and Kupwara in North Kashmir along with Uri”.

However, the personnel have been told to stay away from mob-control operations as this may increase the number of fatalities of protesters.

Two youths were reportedly killed in Kashmir on Tuesday while curfew was imposed in all the 10 districts of the Valley.

Over 50 incidents of clashes were reported during the day between angry mobs and security forces in which several protesters and police personnel were injured.

Sources say the Army troops assisted by CRPF and state police are combing areas and clearing roadblocks put by protesters by felling trees, electric poles and placing huge boulders as well as burnt vehicles, to facilitate movement of people.

The move came on the back of intelligence reports saying Kashmiri youth, armed with batons, stones and petrol bombs, were patrolling arterial roads leading to the national highway and preventing people from venturing out of their homes or moving towards the capital, Srinagar.

Authorities are hoping that the apple and walnut seasons will compel farmers and traders to force separatists to return the situation in the Valley to normal.

The apple season starts by mid-September when cultivators start sending the fruit to markets outside while the walnut season will kick off by end of the month.

Both products are credited with carrying the Valley’s economy.

The Army has also been asked to carry out area-domination exercises. The counter-insurgency grid has also been reorganised, said sources.

“Deployment of the Army has been done near the ‘reception area’ where the terrorists enter Indian territory and hinterland like Tral, Kokernag, Gurez, Machil and Keran sectors along with border and connecting areas,” they said.
Clashes in Kashmir kill eight militants and a policeman.