Indian-controlled Kashmir militant ambush leaves 3 border guards dead, 9 wounded

The militant attack on convoy of India's Border Security Force (BSF) on Friday left three border guards dead and nine others wounded, two of them critically, in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.

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

"Today militants attacked a BSF convoy at Bijbehara with heavy gunfire during which three BSF personnel were killed and nine others were wounded," a senior police official said. "Two BSF men died on the spot while the third personnel succumbed to injuries at a military base hospital in Srinagar."

The convoy of 11 vehicles following the two convoys of paramilitary and army was carrying border guards to Srinagar after their homestay.

Officials said militants believed to be three in number attacked the convoy.

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 rushed to a hospital in the town for first aid and later referred 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 militants managed to escape after the attack.

Region's indigenous militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) has claimed responsibility of the attack. A Srinagar based newsgathering 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 is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. Gunfights between the two sides takes place intermittently across the region.

Kashmir, a 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