Gunbattle rages for 4th day in Indian Kashmir; 4 soldiers, 3 rebels dead

By AIJAZ HUSSAIN Associated Press Writer SRINAGAR, India (AP) _ A deadly gunbattle between government troops and suspected Islamic rebels in Indian-controlled Kashmir continued for a fourth day Friday, police and army officials said. Four soldiers and three suspected Islamic rebels have been killed in the fighting as government forces battle militants in Pattan, a town 30 kilometers north of Srinagar, the main city of India's Jammu-Kashmir state, said Col. Majinder Singh, an Indian army spokesman. The firefight started late Tuesday when suspected rebels hurled grenades and opened heavy gunfire on an army patrol in the town, Singh said. One soldier was killed Tuesday and two others on Wednesday. On Friday, an army officer was shot and killed when suspected militants opened fire on advancing troops, said Singh.