19 Die in Clashes in Disputed Kashmir

JAMMU, India —  At least 19 people, including 13 Muslim militants attempting to sneak across the border from Pakistan, were killed in clashes Monday in the disputed Kashmir region, officials said.

The officials said the 13 militants were killed during gun battles with Indian border guards at two places along the frontier.

The fighting erupted when the militants fired at Indian troops after crossing over from Pakistan into India’s Jammu and Kashmir state, the officials said.

At least six more people, including two Indian security men, were killed in three separate incidents across Kashmir, the officials said.

Kashmiri separatists are fighting for independence of the Muslim-dominated region from predominantly Hindu India.

Monday’s deaths brought the total number of people killed to at least 838 since Jan. 20, when the government launched a crackdown on the Muslim separatists.

About 65% of Jammu-Kashmir’s 6 million people are Muslims, making it India’s only Muslim majority state. Nationwide, Muslims make up 12% of India’s 880 million people.

Hindus account for 82% of the population.