New Delhi - Four Indian soldiers, including a colonel, were killed in a gunbattle with suspected Islamic militants in the Kupwara district of northern Jammu and Kashmir state on Friday, news reports said.

Four militants were also killed in the encounter in the dense forests of the Macchal sector near the line of control, a de facto border that separates India and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, PTI news agency reported.

Srinagar, Aug 22: Security measures have been intensified in sensitive areas in the Kashmir Valley following a 'Idgah chalo' call given by the Coordination Committee of the Hurriyat Conference to protest against the agitation by the Shri Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti.

Both factions of Hurriyat Conference, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and other groups, resumed their agitation today after suspending it for three days on August 19.

Srinagar, India  - Srinagar, the capital of India's Jammu and Kashmir state, prepared Friday for yet another rally called by Muslim separatist leaders after three days of relative calm.

Thousands of people were expected to attend the prayer meeting and rally called by the Coordination Committee - a forum of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, Kashmiri fruit growers' associations and some professional bodies - held at Idgah, a historic prayer ground in Srinagar.

Jammu, August 21 : Irate demonstrators burnt vehicles in Jammu on Thursday protesting over controversial shrine land row.

A group of angry protesters went on a rampage damaging the vehicle of a senior leader belonging to central ruling Congress party and former Deputy Chief Minister of State Mangat Ram Sharma, who was visiting the area.

The protestors also set on fire four private vehicles parked in a by-lane.

Sharma, whose car was badly damaged, urged the people to maintain peace and harmony and try and strengthen relations between Kashmir and Jammu regions.

Jammu, Aug 21 : Day curfew was withdrawn, today in districts of Jammu, Udhampur and relaxed for varying periods in areas of Jammu province, affected with protests over the Amarnath land row. Curfew has been lifted from 5 am to 8 pm in Jammu and from 5a. m to 10p. m in Udhampur district today, said official sources.

A three-hour curfew relaxation from 9:30 am has been given by authorities in Kishtwar town, which witnessed communal clashes on August 12.

A relaxation in curfew has also been given for 11 hours from 5 am, in Samba town.

Srinagar, Aug 21 : The on-going agitation over the Amarnath land row has badly hit educational activities in the Kashmir Valley.

College students in Srinagar complained that their studies have been badly hurt owing to the ongoing agitation.

Students said that they were the worst hit as the frequent protests, shutdown calls and curfew ahead of their annual examinations in the months of November-December have taken a toll on their studies.