Indian army kills 4 militants on Kashmir LoC

Four militants were killed Tuesday by Indian army during ongoing fierce gunfight, thwarting a major infiltration bid on the line-of- control (LoC) dividing Kashmir, officials said.

The gunfight broke out in the morning in Machil sector of frontier Kupwara district, around 165 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Our troops deployed on the LoC in Machil sector of Kupwara today foiled an attempt of infiltration by militants, resulting in elimination of four of them," said an Indian army spokesman.

Indian troops have not suffered any casualties in the fight, officials said.

The militants were intercepted near LoC, thereby triggering a gunfight.

"Based on specific information from intelligence agencies regarding likelihood of infiltration attempt, vigilant troops detected movement of five to six heavily armed militants and engaged them in gunfight immediately," said a statement issued by Indian army. "In the first attempt two militants were killed and later on two more taking their toll to four."

LoC is a de facto border dividing Kashmir into Indian and Pakistani controlled parts.

Officials said the search operation to track down other militants was likely to continue during the night.

The identity of slain militants and their affiliation was not known.

On Monday army killed a militant in Keran sector of Kupwara.

Reports said army has intensified vigil along the LoC in anticipation of infiltration bids.