November 3, 2003	Monday	Ramazan 7, 1424

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SRINAGAR, Nov 2: Indian troops Sunday shot dead six freedom fighters in Kashmir while a civilian was killed by the militants, police said.

Two of the militants were killed during a two-hour gunfight in northern Kupwara district, a police spokesman said.

He said Indian troops on a search operation sealed off a remote village, where hiding militants fired on the encroaching soldiers.

“The fire was returned killing two militants,” the spokesman said.

The third militant was shot dead in the Safapora area of neighbouring Baramulla district Sunday during a similar army operation, police said. A militant each was killed in Anantnag, Doda and Udhampur districts while a civilian was shot dead by militants in Poonch, police said.

The violence came as Indian Kashmir’s leader, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, marked one year in power. He was elected on promises to wind down the 14-year insurgency by ending human rights abuses and holding talks with all sides. —AFP