India celebrating 63rd Independence Day

The militants were killed in a fierce gunbattle in southern Kashmir late Friday, on the eve of India's celebrations of its 62nd anniversary from British colonial rule, police said.

Since 1989, when insurgents launched a revolt against New Delhi's rule, separatists have marked festivities honouring India's independence as a "black day" in the Muslim-majority region.

Separatists staged their traditional one-day anti-India strike to coincide with the celebrations, shutting down shops and businesses and emptying the streets of people.

The four militants killed by troops belonged to the region's most powerful guerrilla group, the Hizbul Mujahedin, which is fighting for the inclusion of Indian Kashmir by neighbouring Pakistan, police said.

During the night soldiers also defused eight bombs planted by militants in the scenic Himalayan region, where authorities have sharply boosted security for the celebrations, said police.