November 18, 2002	Monday	Ramazan 12, 1423

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SRINAGAR, Nov 17: Indian security forces shot dead eight freedom fighters in separate gunbattles in occupied Kashmir, police said on Sunday.

Separatist violence has continued unabated since a new coalition government took power earlier this month promising to bring a “healing touch” to Jammu and Kashmir, torn by a rebellion since 1989.

A police spokesman said security forces killed three suspected members of the Lashkar-i-Taiba group in a gunbattle overnight in Pulwama district south of Srinagar. Soldiers shot dead two suspected members of the same group in another gunbattle in Kupwara district northwest of Srinagar, police said.

Elsewhere, three Mujahideen were killed in separate shootouts in the region, the police said.—Reuters