SRINAGAR, Nov 9: Five suspected militants and four Indian soldiers were killed in a long gunbattle in occupied Kashmir, officials said on Friday. The militants and soldiers, including an army officer, were killed near the town of Patan, north of Srinagar, a police spokesman said.

He said the fighting had started on Tuesday evening when Indian troops were attacked by a group of militants.

“The attack sparked a gunbattle that lasted until Friday,” the spokesman said, adding that around a dozen private homes were destroyed during the fighting and six soldiers were injured.

Meanwhile, Indian troops have surrounded a hotel where at least two suspected militants barricaded themselves after attacking a police post, officials said. Residents reported gunfire throughout the night and Friday.

Police said at least two policemen had been hurt in the incident.—AFP