Indian security forces have clashed with suspected infiltrators trying to sneak into the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir from Pakistan, leaving six guerrillas and two soldiers dead, an army official said. Lt. Gen. Sudhir Sharma said the gun battle erupted on Saturday after Indian troops spotted at least 10 rebels trying to cross the ceasefire line dividing disputed Kashmir between India and Pakistan. Six rebels and two soldiers died in the five-hour clash in Poonch, about 220km northwest of Jammu, a major city on India's side of the line, Sharma said. Two more soldiers were seriously wounded, he said, adding that "we may find more bodies". "It was big group of heavily armed terrorists trying to infiltrate into the Indian side amid rains and poor visibility," Sharma said. "Our troops challenged them and the infiltrators started firing using AK-47 rifles and grenade launchers." Security forces were searching the area for rebels who might have escaped, he said. Sharma said several AK-47 rifles, grenade launchers and satellite phones were recovered from the dead rebel.
