At least seven militants and a soldier were killed in gun battles in India-administered Kashmir, police said Saturday.

Five insurgents were killed in the town of Shopian in a clash that began late Friday after the militants fired on security forces, state police chief SP Vaid said.
One of the slain militants was identified as belonging to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group.
Media reports said a civilian was also killed in the crossfire but this was not confirmed by the police. The killing sparked clashes and protests leading to 20 people being injured, the reports said.
In another gun battle in the Sopore area, two rebels and an army soldier were killed on Friday.
More than 44,000 militants, security personnel and civilians have died in connection with separatist violence since the late 1980s.
India accuses Pakistan of supporting and encouraging the militants. Islamabad denies the charge and calls them freedom fighters.
The disputed Kashmir region is divided into two parts: one administered by India, the other by Pakistan.
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