January 05, 2009	Monday	Muharram 07, 1430

SRINAGAR, Jan 4: A gunbattle between Indian forces and suspected militants raged for a fourth day on Sunday in a densely forested region of occupied Kashmir, police said.

At least seven people have been killed in the clashes.

The fighting started on Thursday when Indian troops came under fire as they were searching for about half a dozen militants believed to be hiding near Bhatidhar, a remote village about 180km southwest of Srinagar, said Col. D.K. Kachari, an Indian army spokesman.

The area has been a stronghold of pro-independence Kashmiri groups since they launched a movement in 1989 seeking occupied Kashmir’s independence or merger with Pakistan.

Four suspected militants, two Indian soldiers and one police officer were killed in the gunbattle, said K. Rajendran, an inspector-general of police. Three soldiers and three police officers were injured.

“We have killed four suspected militants but their bodies are yet to be recovered because of the continuing exchange of gunfire,” he said.—AP