From correspondents in Jammu and Kashmir, India, 03:01 PM IST

The death toll in the ongoing gun battle between militants and security forces along the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan in the Tangdhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir went up to 18 with the killing of one guerrilla and five army personnel Friday.

'The exchange of fire between the terrorists and the army in the Tangdhar sector of the LoC, which began Monday, is still going on. So far, 12 terrorists and six troopers have been killed. Today, one militant, two junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and three soldiers were killed,' an army spokesperson said.

Earlier, 11 guerrillas and a JCO were killed in the gun battle, which began after a group of heavily armed guerrillas that had crossed into the Indian side of the LoC were surrounded by the army.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)