3rd LD Writethru: Paramilitary trooper killed, 8 wounded in Indian-controlled Kashmir militant attack

A paramilitary trooper of India's Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) was killed and eight others wounded Friday after militants attacked their convoy in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.

The attack was carried out in evening in the outskirts of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"This evening militants attacked our convoy using automatic rifles in Zakura locality in the outskirts of Srinagar wounding our nine personnel," R K Bhumbla a senior officer of SSB told Xinhua. "Of the nine wounded one succumbed and two are critical."

Officials said the wounded paramilitary troopers were removed to hospital and later on critically wounded were referred to military base hospital in the city.

Bhumbla said the convey was ferrying the personnel to their camp after performing day's routine duty.

"The convoy was on way back to the camp, when it came under attack," he said.

Reports said following the attack contingents of police and paramilitary cordoned off the area to track down the militants.

However, preliminary reports suggest militants have escaped after carrying out the attack.

On Wednesday, Indian troops killed two militants during 56-hour-long stand-off at a government building in southern Pampore town.

Separatist movement and guerilla war challenging New Delhi's rule is going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. Gunfight between 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. Endit