Indian security forces say they have foiled an attempt by militants to infiltrate the international border in Indian-administered Kashmir. A Border Security Force (BSF) officer said the militants had fired on Indian positions from the Pakistani side.
Security forces were carrying out search operations in the Kangral area where the incident took place, he said.
About 30,00 troops have been withdrawn from Indian-administered Kashmir as rebel attacks decrease.
The incident happened in the Kangral area, about 45km (28 miles) south-west of Jammu city, on Monday night.
Security forces returned fire and the exchange continued till early Tuesday, BSF Deputy Inspector General JB Sangwan said.
“It appeared that a group of militants attempted to sneak into the Indian side which we have foiled effectively,” he said.
One BSF soldier was killed and two were injured in firing on a post on the Line of Control (LoC) on Saturday.
The LoC separates Indian- and Pakistani-administered Kashmir.
A senior BSF official was killed in an explosion in the same area last month when he had gone there to investigate reports about infiltration by suspected militants from across the border.
Last week, Indian Defence Minister AK Antony said that about 30,00 troops had been withdrawn from Indian-administered Kashmir as attacks by separatists had decreased.
He said there had already been a significant reduction over the past two years and the government was willing to further reduce forces in the future.
However, an army official said the number of soldiers deployed along the Line of Control (LoC) would not be cut.