May 4, 2002	Saturday	Safar 20, 1423

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SRINAGAR, May 3: Indian troops gunned down 21 Mujahideen in occupied Kashmir overnight and Friday, while three civilians also died in violence, police said.

The Indian army shot dead seven freedom fighters in south Kashmir on Friday as they tried to cross over the disputed border with Pakistan, police claimed.

The troops had spotted the Mujahideen at Bhimbergali in the Balakote area, 150 kilometres northwest of Jammu.

Police said a gunbattle broke out between the two sides.

Troops managed to recover five bodies, but two were still lying on the Line of Control as heavy firing by the Pakistanis was making it difficult to approach, police said.

The Indian army recovered six AK-47 rifles, a pistol and some ammunition from the bodies of the freedom fighters.

Six more Mujahideen were shot dead by the Indian army in the Surankote area of adjoining Poonch district late on Thursday, police said.

A police spokesman said 13 Mujahideen had crossed from across the LoC, who belonged to the Jaish-i-Mohammad, Lashkar-i-Taiba and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen.

Eight Kashmiris also died, including one who was beheaded after being abducted, police said.—AFP