Suspected Islamic militants have attacked a a village in Indian-administered Kashmir and shot dead three sleeping children, according to police.

An assemblyman was mourned after his death on Friday

The father of the children - who were aged between four and 12 - was wounded along with two other adults after the gunmen stormed into their house in Bamrot, about 200km (120 miles) northwest of the winter capital Jammu on Saturday night.

Experts say militants often target Muslim families, accusing them of being informers for Indian security forces.

The latest attack brings to 11 the number of civilians killed in the region in the past three days.

No lull in violence

More than a dozen Islamic guerrilla groups are fighting Delhi rule in Kashmir, India's only majority Muslim state.

Kashmir's new chief minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, has adopted a more conciliatory approach towards the insurgency against Indian rule in Kashmir.

However, the violence has continued uninterrupted since his government came to power last month.

India accuses Pakistan of arming Islamic gunmen and sending them across the border.

Pakistan protests that it supports only a legitimate struggle for self-determination.