SRINAGAR, Feb 21: Two militants and a civilian were killed in occupied Kashmir, while police arrested a human rights activist for attempting self-immolation to protest human rights violations, police said on Saturday.

Indian troops claimed killing two militants in the districts of Anantnag and Doda on Saturday and Friday night, adding that the militant killed in Doda was a senior commander of the Harkat-ul-Jihadi group.

"Both the militants were killed during encounters sparked by cordon and search operations by the security forces," a police spokesman said.

Police said a Muslim civilian was abducted in Anantnag district and later killed.

IMMOLATION: In Srinagar, police arrested a leading human rights activist, Ahsan Untoo, as he tried to immolate himself, police and witnesses said.

Police overpowered Mr Untoo the moment he sprinkled kerosene over his body and tried to set himself ablaze.

While being taken to a police station, Ahsan Untoo said he had attempted self-immolation to protest growing excesses by Indian troops in held Kashmir.

Mr Untoo was injured in 2002 when he had tried to set himself on fire in a similar protest.

Indian troops have often come under fire for allegedly violating human rights in the held state, although officials say they investigate complaints and punish the guilty officials. -AFP