1st LD Writethru: 10 Indian paramilitary troopers wounded in militant attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir

At least 10 paramilitary troopers of India's Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were wounded Saturday after militants attacked their convoy in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.

The attack took place at Pampore town of Pulwama district, about 24 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Today militants using automatic weapons indiscriminately fired upon a CRPF bus at Pampore, when their convoy was passing through the highway," Nalin Prabhat, a senior CRPF official told Xinhua.

"Some 10 CRPF men were wounded in the attack and following it militants believed to be three in number entered inside a multi-storey government building of Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI)."

The CRPF and police personnel have cordoned off the building to take on the militants.

Eyewitnesses said around 100 people, including trainees and employees of the EDI were present inside the building.

"We were busy doing work when someone shouted there was firing outside and suddenly a word went militants have entered inside asking to clear the building," Ishfaq Mir, an EDI employee told Xinhua.

"Panic gripped everywhere and later on we were evacuated by police in three shifts from the building," the employee added.

Officials said all the civilians were evacuated from the building.

A CRPF camp is stationed adjacent to the EDI building.

Authorities have rushed in reinforcements of military and police to the spot.

A guerilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. Gunfights between the two sides take 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. Endit