August 11, 2002	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Saani 1, 1423

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JAMMU, Aug 10: An Indian police inspector and two freedom fighters were killed in separate incidents of violence in occupied Kashmir, police said on Saturday.

An occupied Jammu and Kashmir police official said the inspector was killed in a gunbattle with Mujahideen north of Jammu.

“The incident took place at noon and the fighting is still going on,” the official told Reuters.

He said two suspected Kashmiris belonging to the Hizbul Mujahideen group were killed in separate overnight gunbattles in Poonch and Doda districts.

Violence in Kashmir has increased since India announced less than two weeks ago it would hold state elections there in September and October.

New Delhi is keen to see a strong voter turnout in Valley but some Kashmiri groups have threatened violence against anyone taking part.

Occupied Kashmir’s main alliance has rejected the elections, saying they could not be a substitute for a lasting solution to the dispute.—Reuters