5 militants shot dead sneaking into Kashmir: Army

Srinagar: The Army shot dead six separatist militants on Saturday as they tried to cross into Kashmir, the fourth such infiltration attempt to be foiled in the last two weeks, an Army spokesman said.

"Soldiers intercepted a large group of infiltrators this morning. Six were killed and the search operation continues," Lieutenant Colonel J S Brar said.

Security officials say Pakistan-based militant groups have stepped up efforts to infiltrate into the region across the Line of Control (LoC) before winter snow blocks the Himalayan mountain passes.

The latest firefight on the LoC, a military line that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan, was in the Uri sector northwest of Srinagar, Brar said.