Four suspected separatists and three Indian soldiers were killed in a two-day gun battle near Line of Control (LoC), said Indian army on Sunday.

There was no independent confirmation of the gun battle between the two sides.

Col Rajesh Kalia, an army spokesman, alleged that the Indian soldiers intercepted the militants after they crossed over from Pakistan on Saturday and the fighting erupted.

Kalia said the gunfire ended on Sunday in Nowgam sector, 140 kilometres north-west of Srinagar, the main city in India-held Kashmir.

Around 500,000 Indian soldiers are deployed in the region.

Rebels have repeatedly attacked government forces in recent weeks. Last week suspected insurgents abducted and killed a military officer who was home on leave for a wedding in Shopian district.

Clashes have become more frequent following widespread unrest last year which was sparked by the killing of a popular rebel leader Burhan Wani by security forces in July, last year.

Police and army officials say dozens of local youths have joined the rebel ranks since then. Some 30 armed militants, mostly locals, have died fighting government forces this year.