Separatists killed in Kashmir

Indian security forces say they have shot dead eight more suspected militants in continuing gun battles along the Line of Control.

Four other rebels were shot dead in a separate clash earlier, officials said.

Indian army officials said more rebels were trying to enter Kashmir before winter set in, when the routes through the high mountain passes would be blocked by snow.

An army spokesman said 60 infiltrators had been killed along the LoC that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan since the beginning of September.

He said that such incidents of attempted infiltration had occurred on average once every day so far this month.

India has long accused Pakistan of supporting infiltrators, a charge the Pakistanis deny.