Twelve people, including a cop and a schoolteacher, were killed in violence across Kashmir, even as security forces claimed they foiled a major infiltration bid on the Line of Control in north Kashmir's Kupwara district.

A police spokesman in Srinagar [Images] said army troops intercepted a group of heavily armed militants in the forests of Drangyar near the LoC in Chowkibal area. They had sneaked into the Indian side of the LoC early on Tuesday.

When the militants were challenged, they hurled hand grenades and fired
automatic weapons at the troops.

The spokesman said in the over 24-hour gun battle, security forces shot
dead the 10 militants.

"Troops have recovered six AK-47 rifles, 13 magazines, 356 rounds, ten
hand grenades and Rs 31,000 from the slain militants," a police handout issued in Srinagar said.

Meanwhile, a local government teacher, Mohammad Youssuf Mir, was dragged out from the school premises and taken to a nearby gorge and was shot dead by militants at Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, police said.

The police and security forces searched the area around the school.

No one has yet claimed responsibility for the killing.

Militants also struck in Rainawari locality of downtown Srinagar and fired at a policeman. Constable Bilal Ahmed was immediately rushed by his colleagues to hospital. However, he succumbed to his bullet wounds enroute.