SRINAGAR, Aug 8: Indian troops have shot dead six militants in the latest wave of separatist violence in Kashmir that has left 39 dead since the start of August, police said on Tuesday.

Two militants were shot dead during a fierce gunfight in Anantnag district late Monday, a police spokesman said.

The two had held three civilians hostage and demanded safe passage after Indian troops and police had ringed a forested area.

The troops refused to provide safe passage and the hostages were set free, police said, adding that the rebels would not surrender and were shot dead.

Two more militants were shot dead on Tuesday on the outskirts of Jammu, police said, adding they were members of the Jaish-i-Mohammed group.

Another militant was killed late Monday in a gunfight in northern Kupwara district bordering Pakistani Kashmir, police said, adding a sixth rebel was killed Tuesday in the southern district of Doda.

In the Handwara district 80km north of Srinagar, 12 people were injured on Tuesday when a grenade lobbed by suspected militants at a security patrol instead landed among bystanders, police said.—AFP