1st LD Writethru: 2 border guards killed, 8 wounded in Indian-controlled Kashmir militant attack

At least two border guards of India's Border Security Force (BSF) were killed and eight others wounded, some critically, Friday after militants attacked their convoy with gunfire in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.

The attack was carried out at Bijbehara town of Anantnag district, about 44 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Today militants attacked a convoy of BSF with gunfire in Bijbehara town wounding 10 personnel," a senior police official told Xinhua. "Of the wounded two have succumbed."

Local witnesses said the BSF men retaliated the militant fire and the exchange lasted for more than 15 minutes.

The wounded BSF men were immediately removed to hospital in the town for first aid.

"A total of 10 BSF personnel were brought to the hospital, out of which two were dead and eight others wounded," a health official said. "We provided first aid to all the wounded and then referred them to Srinagar for specialised treatment."

Following the attack police and paramilitary troopers cordoned off the area and conducted house to house searches to trace the militants. So far there were no reports of any arrest. Reports said the militants managed to escape after the attack.

Police have suspended movement of traffic on the road in wake of the militant attack.

The region's indigenous militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) has claimed responsibility of the attack. A Srinagar-based news-gathering agency said the outfit's spokesperson called its office to claim responsibility.

Last year seven paramilitary troopers of India's Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and a civilian were wounded in a similar attack in the town.

A guerilla war has been 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. Endit