Indian forces kill 5 on Kashmir border

Indian forces on Monday killed five alleged rebels in Indian-held Kashmir, reports said. The five were killed in a major gun battle in the Machhil sector of the border in northern Kashmir, the reports said, quoting an Indian defence spokesman.

Press Trust of India news agency quoted the spokesman as saying that a major ‘infiltration’ bid was foiled in the Machhil sector by alert troops. The spokesman claimed that weapons were recovered but did not indicate which group they belong to. Indian forces have now killed about 40 people this year allegedly trying to cross the Line of Control.