At least four police officers and two suspected rebels have been killed during a gun battle in the India-administered territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Indian army’s Rising Star Corps said on social media on Saturday morning that “relentless operations” had led to the “elimination of two terrorists” – a term usually referring to rebels opposed to Indian rule in Kashmir.

“We have recovered bodies of three policemen and have also spotted the body of another cop and two militants lying in the forest,” the official, who did not want to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media, told the Reuters news agency.

Arms and ammunition, including two grenades, a bulletproof jacket, empty shells and some magazines of assault rifles were also recovered from the area, the official said.

For decades, rebel groups have fought security officials in the region, resulting in a death toll in the thousands. But in recent years, violence has tapered off.

Still, according to government data, at least 14 security personnel were killed in such fighting in the first half of 2024, and at least 30 were killed in 2023.