SRINAGAR (India), April 29: Eight suspected Muslim militants and a civilian were killed in continuing separatist violence in revolt-hit Indian Kashmir, the army and police said on Sunday.

Four of the militants were killed early on Sunday in a fierce gunbattle with troops in the northern district of Kupwara, army spokesman A. K. Mathur told AFP.

He said the fighting erupted when troops surrounded a forested hideout and asked the militants to surrender.

“They instead opened fire, which was returned killing four of them (militants),” he said.

Four more rebels were killed in two separate gunbattles with troops in Doda and Rajouri late on Saturday and early Sunday.