SRINAGAR, April 16: Indian troops shot dead Saturday seven Muslim militants, including two commanders of Kashmir’s dominant freedom-fighter group, the army said. The two Hizbul Mujahedin commanders, Shabir Baduri and Ghulam Mohiudin, were killed in a clash in southern Kashmir, army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel V.K. Batra said.

“Today’s (Saturday’s) killing of two senior Hizb commanders is of immense significance as the two were involved in many actions against troops and civilians,” Batra said. Hizb has made no comment on the deaths.

It was the second time in two days that the army, which has been engaged in a stepped-up drive over the past fortnight against militants in Kashmir, said it had killed senior militant leaders.

On Friday, the army said troops shot dead three top commanders of the hard-line group al-Badr, including its chief commander, and lower ranked guerrillas. Indian troops shot dead five more militants in the districts of Anantnag and Udhampur on Saturday, police said.

Batra said the army was having greater success in battling the militants thanks to more tip-offs from Kashmiris. India has said violence has fallen since the start of peace process with Pakistan. —AFP