India troops block Kashmir villages amid massive rebel hunt
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SRINAGAR -- Thousands of Indian government forces cordoned off at least two dozen villages in southern Kashmir on Thursday while they hunted for separatist militants believed to be hiding in the area, but called off the operation after about 10 hours without finding any, police said.
They said rebels later ambushed and shot at an army patrol as it was returning from the operation in the Shopian area. The soldiers retaliated but the attackers fled from the area, police said.
A civilian driver hired by the army was killed in the ambush and at least two soldiers were reportedly injured.
