Violence between militants and security personnel in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir has continued, even as Indian forces battle in the Himalayan peaks surrounding Kargil.

Last week, 40 civilians were killed in attacks in the Kashmir valley.

Most of the villagers in Nathpura, in the northwest corner of the Kashmir Valley, are labourers working in rice fields.

Some spent their wages building new solid brick homes after a destructive flood a few years ago.

They say they have nothing to do with the militants in the nearby mountains.

But when the paramilitary Border Security Forces (BSF) arrived one morning to search for militants, the villagers were trapped in the middle.

One of them, Ghulam Kadar, described the scene that led to the death of a 16-year old boy, Imtiaz.

Susannah Price: "There appears to be no end to the cycle of violence"

"On 14 June, three militants came to this area and were hiding in one house. The next day, the Border Security Forces came in the morning and surrounded the area and set fire to the house, burning two of the militants," he said.

A mother grieving for her dead son

"Then they didn't stop there and set the entire area on fire, a student was burnt alive, schoolbooks in hand ...", he added.

It is not clear how Imtiaz became trapped in the fire, but the villagers clearly hold the BSF responsible for his death, and for the destruction of fifty houses. The BSF have made no comment. Local politicians rushed to the scene, promising compensation.

Heavy security presence

The security forces remain on high alert, with checkpoints searching individuals and vehicles all round the valley.

Most of the villagers are labourers

At first, the army's heavy-handed tactics alienated local people, but as the militant groups began fighting among themselves, they lost support.

The authorities say the number of Kashmiri militants has decreased and they have been joined by militants from other countries.

The inspector-general of the BSF in Srinagar, Vijay Kumar, says there are several reasons for the decline in support locally.

"Perhaps the battle fatigue, the non co-operation of the locals ...they want to stay away from this mess and it's more and more [due to] the rift between the foreign militants and the local militants," he said.

Differing agendas

The separatists have the power to close down the whole valley when they want to. A strike called by the separatist alliance the All Party Hurriyat Conference, to protest at three recent massacres, brought the valley to a standstill.

Although the militants want India out, they have differing views on whether they want independence or union with Pakistan. The chairman of Hurriyat, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, says the Indian government should stop its violence.

"If they admit that the Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory and we are ready to resolve this problem by peaceful means, then the way will come out, but India is suffering from the arrogance of power," Mr Geelani said.

Tired of fighting

The tall chimneys of brick kilns mark the road outside Anantnag town.

Police break up a separatist rally in Srinagar

Thousands of Hindu migrant workers formed the mainstay of these kilns, but they too have now become victims in the violence. Twelve labourers were murdered at Sandoo village.

The labourers and their families were sleeping here when the gunmen struck. Their huts, made of loose bricks and corrugated iron roofs, now lie deserted, the smell of cooking still lingering in the air.

Inside the huts, pieces of clothing, bags of spices and even a plastic toy lie scattered on the earth floor - all evidence of how quickly the families fled.

Many people believe the labourers were killed by militants in retaliation for the killing two days before of 17 Muslims.

After ten years of these reprisal killings, the villagers of the Kashmir Valley are tired of fighting. They believe they are in a no-win situation.

"The militants come to all villages, what can we do? We've had no connection with them but if someone points a gun and says we are going to stay in your house what can you do? If the BSF come and say can we do anything, how can we fight them?" said Ghulam Kadar.

There appears to be no end to the cycle of violence. The rights and wrongs of the argument over the future of Kashmir are drowned out by the gunfire, and while the army camps and militant hideouts can be rebuilt, the lives and homes of the civilians are lost forever.