(26 Aug 2002)

1. Various of three bodies of killed militants on stretchers on the ground
2. White sheets placed over bodies
3. Bodies put into truck
4. Close-up of display of weapons captured from militants
5. Close-up of soldiers standing next to weapons

STORYLINE:

At least 11 people have been killed in Kashmir in attacks by suspected Islamic militants ahead of elections, according to police.

Islamic separatists fighting in the Indian part of the divided Himalayan province have vowed to disrupt state elections that start next month.

Police said paramilitary forces killed three suspected rebels and one soldier died in a gun battle in Milyal Kupwara, nearly 130 kilometres (75 miles) north of Srinagar, Kashmir's summer capital.

On Sunday night police said suspected guerrillas raided the home of a police officer and gunned down his father, brother and two other relatives in Surankot, a village 200 kilometres (125 miles) northwest of Jammu, Kashmir's winter capital.

Police said the gunmen belonged to Harkat-ul-Mujahadeen, one of a dozen Pakistan-based rebel groups fighting for Kashmir's independence from India or merger with the Muslim nation. There was no way to independently verify the
claim.

Also on Monday police said unidentified assailants shot and killed three civilians in two separate attacks in Budgam and Tangmarg in the Kashmir Valley.

India accuses Pakistan of training and arming Islamic militants who slip into the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir to fight security forces. Pakistan insists it provides only moral and diplomatic support to the "freedom fighters."

The separatists have called for a boycott of the forthcoming state elections in Kashmir, claiming past ballots have been rigged in favour of the pro-India ruling party.

A 12-year insurgency has claimed some 60-thousand lives.

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