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2nd LD Writethru: 2 troopers killed, 9 wounded in militants attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir

Xinhua, February 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

At least two paramilitary troopers of India's Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed and nine others 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.

Following the attack, militants believed to be three in number entered a multi-storey government building of the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) nearby.

"In today's militant attack at Pampore, 11 CRPF personnel were wounded and of them two succumbed to their wounds," CRPF spokesman Bhavesh Chaudhury told Xinhua.

According to Chaudhury, CRPF has cordoned off the building to take on the militants there.

"The three militants are inside the building and we have evacuated all the civilians from inside," he said. "We are still waiting to cross check if all the civilians are out of the building. Once we are sure, we will carry out the assault."

Authorities have rushed in reinforcements of army, police and CRPF to the spot to prevent the militants from fleeing from the building.

Eyewitnesses said more than 100 people, including trainees and employees of the EDI had been inside the building.

Adjacent to the EDI building is a CRPF camp.

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