SRINAGAR – Indian troops fought a gun battle with Kashmir rebels Tuesdayafter a car bomb attack and other clashes left four soldiers and threemilitants dead in 24 hours, military officials said.

A soldier and two suspected rebels were killed in the latest shootout inthe Anantnag area of India-administered Kashmir, army spokesman ColonelRajesh Kalia said in a statement.

Another two soldiers were killed and many more wounded when a car bomb hitan Indian military truck late Monday in Pulwama district, the statementadded.

The remote-control bomb was set off in the same district as where a suicidebomber in February targetted an Indian convoy and killed 40 paramilitaries.

The attack led to India and Pakistan staging tit-for-tat air raids.

India and Pakistan divided Muslim-majority Kashmir after their independencein 1947, but both claim it in whole. An insurgency on the Indian side overthe past three decades has left more than 70,000 dead, mainly civilians.

Kalia called the car bomb “a failed attempt” to hit an Indian patrol, butgave no other details.

However, a senior police officer speaking on condition of anonymity toldAFP that at least 12 soldiers were wounded in the blast and taken to amilitary hospital in Kashmir’s main city, Srinagar.

Hours before the car bombing, a clash between suspected rebels and Indianforces left one soldier and one militant dead, according to Kalia.

Southern Kashmir has seen intense fighting over the past three yearsbetween Indian forces and rebels, who are demanding independence for theHimalayan region or a merger with Pakistan.

More then 100 rebels have been killed in Indian Kashmir this year inclashes with soldiers.

India has about 500,000 troops in its side of Kashmir, and Prime MinisterNarendra Modi has repeatedly said they have a “free hand” to eradicatemilitants in the restive territory.

But the Kashmir public has also taken a more radical stance, with localresidents increasingly trying to help besieged militants escape militarycordons.

The Indian government accuses Pakistan of supporting the rebels, whileIslamabad says it provides only moral and diplomatic support to Kashmirisdemanding self-determination. -APP/AFP