2nd Ld Writethru: Death toll of paramilitary troopers rises to 8 in Indian-controlled Kashmir attack

At least eight paramilitary troopers of India's Central Reserve Police (CRPF) were killed and 18 others wounded Saturday after militants attacked their bus in the restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.

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

According to CRPF officials, two militants who carried out the attack were also killed in the retaliatory fire from the CRPF men deployed in the town.

"A CRPF bus which was returning after firing exercise to Srinagar was ambushed by two militants here. The militants came in the middle of the road and fired on the bus, which blew up front tyres of the bus and caused it to halt," Nalin Prabhat, a senior CRPF official told media in Pampore.

"As the militants were trying to rush into the bus, the CRPF men deployed on the road retaliated bravely and killed both militants on spot."

Reports said more than 50 CRPF men were on board at the time of attack. The bullets smashed windshields of the bus and glass shreds were seen scattered on the ground near the abandoned bus.

Prabhat said both the militants apparently non-locals were trying to carry out a suicide attack.

A police official said five CRPF personnel died on spot, while three succumbed to their wounds on way to hospital.

The wounded CRPF men were admitted in a military hospital at Srinagar for treatment.

The deadly attack triggered panic in the town as locals were seen running for cover to safer places, while the exchange of gunfire between the two sides was going on, reports said. Authorities rushed huge contingents of police and army to the town to carry out searches.

On Thursday six militants were killed in two different gunfights in the region.

Earlier this month militants ambushed a convoy of India's Border Security Force (BSF) in Bijbehara town, killing three border guards and wounding nine others.

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.

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. Endiit