Four killed in Kashmir crossfire
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SPECIAL REPORT
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NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- Police in Indian-administered Kashmir say four civilians were killed in crossfire between army forces and suspected Islamic militants in the Kashmiri village of Gadol in the Anantnag district.
According to the police, a group of army personnel accompanied by some counter-insurgents -- former militants who now support Indian forces -- went to the village on Thursday afternoon, after they received information that some militants were hiding there.
The army cordoned off Gadol village about 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of the state capital Srinagar, and while they were searching the village, police say, the militants shot at them.
One counter-insurgent was killed. Army forces then opened fire, and in the resulting crossfire, four villagers, including one woman and her 2-month-old child were killed.
Police say all the militants were able to escape from the village.
India's central government has made no statement on this incident, but blames neighboring Pakistan for helping Islamic-militants operating in Kashmir.
Pakistan denies that it provides physical support for the militants.
The incident comes even as the two countries are working out slow and fragile peace initiatives with each other.
Authorities say more than 30,000 men and women have been killed in violence in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir since 1989.
