Militant attack kills 2 policemen in Indian-controlled Kashmir

Two Indian policemen including a junior level officer were killed Saturday in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, 

The attack was carried out at Anantnag town outside the main bus station about 52 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Today militants shot dead two policemen outside the main bus station here," a senior police official told Xinhua. "Though we immediately removed the policemen to district hospital in the town but doctors declared them brought dead."

The attack comes several hours after militants ambushed a convoy of Indian border guards of Border Security Force (BSF) in the neighboring town of Bijbehara killing three personnel and wounding nine others.

Locals witnesses said they heard a volley of gunshots near the bus station and later on saw policemen lying on road in pool of blood.

"I was at my shop doing the routine work and suddenly I heard sound of gunfire outside," Sameer Ahmad, a local shopkeeper said. "As I rushed outside, I saw people running away in panic from the spot and policemen lying on the road with blood oozing out from their bodies."

Following the attack militants managed to flee from the spot safely. Reports said two militants carried out the attack.

Last month four policemen were killed in similar attacks in Srinagar and Pulwama and militants also snatched away two service rifles of the slain policemen.

A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troopers stationed in the region since 1989. However, of late Indian policemen too have been trained to fight them.

Indian-controlled Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti condemned the attack on policemen and border guards.

Gunfights between the militants and Indian troops takes place intermittently across the region.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan is claimed by both in full. Since their Independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.

source : xinhua