JAMMU, Sept 19: Five Indian soldiers and two civilians helping them track down freedom fighters in thick forests in occupied Kashmir have been killed in a fierce firefight, police sources said on Thursday.

Two Kashmiri fighters were also killed in the skirmish, they said.

According to one source, the Indian security forces had been taken by surprise by the Mujahideen, who had dug in on hilltops and had opened fire on the advancing soldiers with highly-sophisticated weapons.

About a dozen civilians who were helping the security forces locate the rebels’ hideouts in the Katarmal forests in the southern Rajouri district were caught in the crossfire and fled.

Two were killed and two were missing, the source said.

Following a tip-off, about 1,000 Indian soldiers on Wednesday cordoned off an area where the fighters were suspected to be hiding.

SCHOOL ATTACKED: Suspected Kashmiri fighters opened fire on a school on Thursday in occupied Kashmir, killing a 10-year-old and his teacher.