Four Indian soldiers, including a colonel, were killed in a gunbattle with suspected Islamic militants in the Kupwara district of northern Jammu and Kashmir state on Friday, news reports said. Four militants were also killed in the encounter in the dense forests of the Macchal sector near the line of control, a de facto border that separates India and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, dpa reported. Colonel JJ Joseph, commanding officer of the 45 Rastriya Rifles, was killed while leading the operations against a large group of foreign militants, Indian Army sources were quoted as saying. Joseph succumbed to his injuries after being evacuated to the army hospital in state capital Srinagar. Three other soldiers were killed in the operation launched on information that a large group of militants were hiding in the forest. "The encounter is still going on and the pattern of fire indicates that these could be foreign militants," the army sources said. Recent intelligence reports have indicated a steep increase in infiltration attempts by militants across the line of control aided by Pakistani border forces. India and Pakistan have fought two wars over the disputed Kashmir region. India has accused Pakistan of aiding and abetting Kashmiri militants, a charge it denies. Pakistan says Kashmiri militants are freedom fighters. More than 40,000 people - civilians, militants and security forces personnel - have died in a violent secessionist movement in India- administered Kashmir since the late 1980s. The latest infiltration bid comes against the backdrop of large protests led by separatist groups in Srinagar.
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