7 killed in Kashmir

Seven people were killed in fresh fighting between soldiers and separatist militants in Indian-administered Kashmir, police said yesterday.

An Indian army soldier and three Islamic militants were killed in two fierce clashes late Wednesday in the southern district of Poonch and in Kupwara district in the north, a police spokesman said.

"Both the clashes erupted when troops launched counter-insurgency operations in the two areas," the spokesman said.

Also late Wednesday, suspected rebels abducted a policeman and an Indian army soldier in southern Doda and Rajouri districts and later killed them, police said.