SRINAGAR – At least three suspected fighters and four Indian soldiers havereportedly been killed in an attack on an Indian military camp in thedisputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, Indian officials say.

The fatalities occurred early on Sunday after “heavily armed” gunmenstormed a military training camp near the southern Lethpora Village inKashmir’s Pulwama district, an Indian paramilitary official said.

The assailants started firing guns and throwing grenades at the campsentries, said paramilitary spokesman Rajesh Yadav, adding that thesoldiers inside the base responded to the attack, which also left at leastthree Indian forces wounded.

Yadav said Indian troops had recovered the bodies of three suspectedfighters from the attack and were searching a building in the camp foranother militant.

A group reportedly claimed responsibility for the deadly assault.

India regularly accuses Pakistan of arming and training militants andpushing them across the restive frontier in an attempt to launch attacks onIndian forces. Pakistan strongly denies the allegation.

India has already deployed some 500,000 soldiers to the disputed region tofurther boost the security of the borderline and suppress pro-independencedemonstrations in its share of Kashmir, where anti-India sentiments arehigh.

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan but claimed in full byboth since the two partitioned and gained independence from Britain in1947. Armed roups have also for decades been fighting for independence or amerger with Pakistan.

The two countries have fought three wars over the disputed territory.Despite a ceasefire agreement that was reached in November 2003, sporadicskirmishes continue in Kashmir.