Indian police kill militants

ISN SECURITY WATCH (Friday, 17 March: 15.05 CET) - Indian police on Friday shot dead four suspected Islamist militants suspected of planning to attack religious sites in the western state of Gujarat, news agencies reported.

Indian media reports cite police as saying they had information that militants were planning to carry out attacks against prominent persons in the state.

According to police reports, the shootout took place when they were on a routine search in the city of Ahmedabad and were shot at from a house and returned fire.

Police said the four killed included two Pakistanis and two Kashmiris.

According to local media reports, one kilogram of explosive material was also discovered.

Police told reporters they suspected the militants were linked to the Harkat-ul-Mujahadeen, which is active in Indian-administered Kashmir.

The incident comes only days after suspected Muslim militants set off two bombs in the holy Hindu city of Varanasi, killing 15 people and wounding dozens of others.

More than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, died in riots in Gujarat four years ago after a train attack that killed 59 Hindus.