Twelve separatist Muslim militants and a civilian have been killed in Indian-administered Kashmir, police said Thursday.
Five Muslim militants from the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba outfit were killed in a seven-hour encounter with Indian troops near Zarnar, 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of the Kashmiri summer capital Srinagar.
"The encounter was sparked by an army cordon and search operation," a police spokesman said.
In another encounter four militants were shot dead in the northern district of Kupwara after crossing the disputed border from Pakistani-administered Kashmir.
"The fighting broke out Wednesday evening and ended this morning with the death of all four intruders," he said.
Two more militants, both believed to be Pakistanis, were killed in another encounter at Maidan Behak village in the same district.
Another militant and a civilian died in separate incidents -- SRINAGAR, India (AFP)
