May 7, 2005	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 27, 1426

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SRINAGAR, May 6: Leading militant Kashmiri group Hizbul Mujahedin said on Friday 14 of its members were believed to have died in a fierce battle with Indian troops. The militant death toll from the clash on Wednesday in Bandipora town was the biggest in years, police said.

An Indian army spokesman said 10 bodies so far had been recovered from the battle site where witnesses said soldiers fired rockets, destroying six houses. Hizbul, which is battling to make held Kashmir part of Pakistan, said in a statement that “information available with us suggests 14 mujahedin are believed to have been killed along with a number of security personnel.”—AFP