19 killed in Kashmir violence

Indian security forces say at least 19 people, including a teenage girl, have been killed in a day of separatist violence in Kashmir.

Nine suspected Islamic militants, suspected to be members of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, were killed in a fierce three-hour gun battle as they tried to cross the border from Pakistan.

In another incident, the army killed five militants hiding in a mountainous forest.

Police said paramilitary forces also killed four militants belonging to militant Hezb-ul Mujahedeen group in the north-west Kupwara district.

Elsewhere in the region a teenage girl was killed in separatist violence, while a village worker was severely wounded, police said.