Soldier Dies In Kashmir Ahead Of India's Independence Day

An Indian soldier was killed and seven security force members wounded Monday in attacks by Kashmiri militants ahead of India's Independence Day, a police spokesman said.

The soldier was killed and three of his colleagues were hurt in a gunbattle with militants in Ashmuqam, south of the summer capital Srinagar, while four policemen were wounded in a rebels grenade attack in the northern district of Baramulla, the spokesman said.

The violence came amid tight security in Kashmir ahead of India's Independence Day celebrations on Tuesday.

Both hardline and moderate factions of Kashmir's main separatist alliance -- the All-Party Hurriyat Conference -- have called for a boycott of Independence Day events. Militant groups have disrupted events with attacks in the past.