Indian troops kill Kashmir militants, rescue hostages

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SRINAGAR, Aug 28 : Indian troops have shot dead three Muslim militants in Kashmir and freed seven hostages they seized after going on a killing spree, the army said Thursday. "The operation is over. We killed third militant early today (Thursday)," Indian army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel SD Goswami told the AFP from the stand-off on the outskirts of Hindu-dominated Jammu city.

The army, backed by paramilitaries, had killed the two other militants Wednesday evening during a fierce gunbattle. Goswami said soldiers were able to rescue seven women and children, but three men who were also taken hostage were killed by the militants.

The army had earlier said only women and children were hostages.

Earlier on Wednesday, the militants, wearing camouflage dress, opened fire on an army post killing one officer and wounding two other soldiers.

The soldiers retaliated but the militants escaped in a taxi rickshaw and later killed its driver and two other civilians.

They then barricaded themselves in a house and took 10 people hostage.

Goswami said in all 10 people were killed -- three militants, six civilians and an army officer. Police chief K Rajindera Kumar said the militants had entered Jammu from Pakistan after cutting through a border fence Tuesday.

India accuses Pakistan of arming and funding militants who have been waging an insurgency in the region since 1989. Islamabad denies the charge.