SRINAGAR, Sept 27: Six Muslim militants, two civilians and a soldier were killed in separatist violence in occupied Kashmir, police said on Saturday.

Three militants were killed on Friday in a clash with security personnel who surrounded the rebels’ hideout in the Watlipora-Tangmarg area of Baramulla district, a police spokesman told AFP.

He said the hideout was used by the Hezbul Mujahideen, the largest guerilla group fighting Indian rule in Kashmir.

The army acted on an intelligence tip-off to destroy another Hizbul Mujahedin hideout near Mahore forest in the southern Udhampur district, killing two rebels, the spokesman said.

The army recovered several AK-47 assault rifles, 13 magazines, seven grenades, a grenade launcher and ammunition from this hideout, he said.

Another rebel was shot dead in the northwestern Kupwara district and an army soldier died in a battle with militants in Baramulla’s Gurez area, the spokesman said.

Police said suspected guerillas shot dead two Muslim civilians in the southern district of Pulwama and central district of Budgam.

“The immediate motive behind the two killings was not known,” the spokesman said.

More than 38,000 people have died in Kashmir since the eruption of an uprising in 1989. Separatists put the toll at between 80,000 and 100,000.—AFP