Kashmiri clashes leave 10 people dead

Clashes in Indian-administered Kashmir have killed 10 
people- five police officers, a soldier, two civilians and two
suspected separatist fighters, according to Indian authorities.

Suspected separatist ambushed a police patrol in the 
town of Achhabal, killing five police personnel, a police 
officer told AFP news agency on Friday.

Armed groups active in divided Kashmir have stepped up
attacks in recent weeks on Indian government forces
patrolling the area as part of "counterinsurgency" operations.

Earlier, soldiers and a police special counterinsurgency 
force cordoned off Arwani village on a tip-off that armed 
men were hiding in two homes, setting off a firefight, the officer said.

Two civilians, including a teenage boy, were killed when
security forces fired at hundreds of villagers who marched 
to the site of the attack to help the fighters escape, the 
police officer said.

Two suspected separatists were also killed, the officer said.

The unrest spread to neighbouring villages as thousands 
of residents clashed with government forces, hurling stones and chanting: "We want freedom" and "Go India, go back".

Separately on Friday, an Indian army spokesman said a
soldier was killed when Pakistani forces fired at Indian 
posts in southern Naushera along the Line of Control (LoC) that divides Kashmir between the two countries.

The two armies have traded heavy fire along the de 
facto border almost daily in recent weeks, killing civilians 
and soldiers on both sides while accusing each other of breaching a 2003 ceasefire agreement.

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan 
since the end of British colonial rule in 1947, but both 
claim the Himalayan territory in full.

India maintains roughly 500,000 soldiers in the territory 
and blames Pakistan for fomenting unrest.

Pakistan denies the allegation, saying it only provides
diplomatic support to the Kashmiri struggle for the right 
of self-determination.

Officials say dozens of youth have joined the separatist 
ranks since last July after a popular commander was killed 
by security forces, sparking months of wide-scale protests in the territory.