Troops killed four Muslim rebels in Indian Kashmir as a separatist strike paralyzed the restive region yesterday in protest against celebrations marking India’s 1947 independence, police said.
The militants were killed in a gunbattle in southern Kashmir on Friday, on the eve of India’s celebrations of its 62nd anniversary from British colonial rule, police said.
Since 1989, when insurgents launched a revolt against New Delhi’s rule, separatists have marked festivities honoring India’s independence as a “black day” in the Muslim-majority region.
Separatists staged their traditional one-day anti-India strike to coincide with the celebrations, shutting down shops and businesses and emptying the streets of people.
During the night soldiers also defused eight bombs planted by militants in the scenic Himalayan region, police said.
“The attempt by militants to disrupt the Independence Day celebrations was foiled,” a police spokesman said.
In Srinagar, sharpshooters took up positions on top of buildings overlooking the venue for the main celebrations, as part of the heightened security.
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