Twenty suspected Islamic militants gunned down by India's security forces were among 21 people killed in a day of violence in Indian-administered Kashmir today, an army spokesman said.
The violence coincided with the counting of votes in the disputed territory's assembly elections, in which the ruling National Conference performed badly.
The spokesman said that in one incident, Indian troops shot dead nine rebels during a search in the Kaswa Beru area of central Budgam district, about 60 kilometres from Kashmir's summer capital, Srinagar.
A civilian was also killed in the cross-fire between the rebels and the security personnel.
Indian troops also shot dead 11 suspected rebels in three separate incidents in Kashmir's Baramulla and Kupwara districts, the spokesman said.
Over 37,000 people have died in Kashmir since an Islamic uprising erupted in 1989. Muslim separatists, who boycotted the election, put the death toll twice as high.
AFP