7 Reported Slain in Kashmir Rebel Clash

Islamic militants entered an army camp in India’s Kashmir state and started an overnight gun battle that left at least four soldiers and three militants dead, the army reported Tuesday.

But an Indian police officer said at least 12 soldiers were killed and 25 wounded in the attack. The differing numbers could not be reconciled immediately.

The men died during a gunfight between militants and soldiers at the camp in Berwah, 25 miles northwest of Srinagar, the army said. Srinagar is the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir state. The fighting began late Monday and ended Tuesday.

The Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistani-based Islamic militant group, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Abu Usama, the group’s spokesman, said three militants were killed--two of them from the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the third, the Jamayet-ul-Moujahedeen group. The groups are among those fighting to end Indian rule in Kashmir.