10 members of the Indian security forces were killed in an attack on an army artillery camp in northern Kashmir early on Friday, the worst losses for security forces in more than a year near the border with Pakistan.

10 members of the Indian security forces were killed in an attack on an army artillery camp in northern Kashmir early on Friday, the worst losses for security forces in more than a year near the border with Pakistan, officials said.

Several hours later, a gun battle broke out in Srinagar, the state capital where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due next week on a campaign tour for a state election.

The latest attack took place in occupied Kashmir's Uri sector near the militarised border. Kashmiris are voting for a new state assembly in the occupied region, officials said, and the attack came just days before voting in the staggered election is due to be held in that sector.

The fighters cut through a wire fence around the small artillery camp and then fired rocket-propelled grenades at the security force men in their bunkers, an army officer said.

He said six attackers were killed in the gun battle that lasted several hours.
Soldiers killed six fighters earlier this week in nearby Kupwara as they crossed over from Pakistan, which the army said was part of a push to disrupt the vote.

Kashmir is held by India and Pakistan in parts and claimed by both in full.

The two countries have fought three wars – in 1948, 1965 and 1971 – since they were partitioned in 1947, two of which were fought over Kashmir.