India Kashmir stand-off ends
4 killed as militants storm army camp
A civilian and three armed militants have been killed in a fierce gun battle at an army camp in Indian-administered Kashmir.
The three gunmen forced their way into the camp near the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
An army official said the attackers entered after cutting through a fence yesterday.
Both India and Pakistan claim Kashmir in its entirety. Militants have been fighting Indian rule since 1989.
The gunmen stormed the army base at Tangdhar, 140 kilometres northwest of the main city of Srinagar, firing automatic weapons.
The army's counter-offensive lasted for about six hours, agencies said.
"Three terrorists were killed in the exchange of stand-off fire that began in the morning hours. One soldier was wounded in the firefight," defence spokesman in Srinagar NN Joshi told the AFP news agency.
Last week, fighting in the same district saw an Indian colonel killed in a gun battle with militants, while two soldiers were seriously injured.
India often accuses Pakistan of arming, training and sending rebels across the heavily militarised border into Indian-administered Kashmir. Islamabad denies the charge, saying it provides only political support for their struggle for self-determination.
In July, three gunmen stormed a police station in neighbouring Punjab state, close to the border with Pakistan, and killed seven people.
The Indian government said the attackers crossed the border from Pakistan before launching their assault that led to a gun battle that lasted nearly 11 hours.