Strike in Kashmir as soldiers fight militants

By Ashok Pahalwan

JAMMU, India (Reuters) - A militant was killed in Kashmir on Monday, officials said, the latest in spiralling violence that sparked a strike by parties across the political spectrum.

Police and soldiers patrolled the streets of Jammu and border areas following the attempted infiltration by militants from Pakistan's portion of Kashmir, officials said.

Eight people, including four civilians, died on Sunday and at least 18 villagers were wounded after militants exchanged fire with soldiers, in the heaviest civilian toll this year in the region.

Last week, soldiers came under heavy cross-border fire while trying to stop a group of armed men from sneaking into its part of Kashmir. It was the worst incident on the border between India and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir this year.

Indian officials have said that separatist militants fighting New Delhi's rule in the divided Himalayan region are trying to cross the border from Pakistani Kashmir.

"The strike was called to protest against terrorist attacks on innocent civilians," said Ashok Khajuria, state chief of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

On Monday, streets were deserted and public transport was off the roads in and around Jammu as political parties held meetings to condemn the killings.

A militant was also shot dead when he was trying to sneak into an army camp near Jammu, the army said.