Roundup: Civilian driver killed, 2 troopers wounded in militant attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir

A civilian driver was killed and two troopers were wounded after militants attacked an army patrol in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said Friday.

The army personnel travelling in a private taxi came under heavy gunfire in Kiloora village of Shopian district, 56 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"An army patrol that was travelling in a private taxi was ambushed by militants in village Kiloora here late last evening," a police official posted in Shopian told Xinhua. "In the firing, the driver of vehicle and two troopers were wounded. However, the civilian driver succumbed to his wounds soon after."

Doctors at Shopian district hospital who attended wounded troopers said they were out of danger, however a local medical facility where the driver was rushed declared him brought dead on arrival.

Reports said the troopers were wearing bullet-proof jackets and helmets, while as the civilian driver was without any protective gear.

The slain driver has been identified as Nazir Ahmad Sheikh, a local resident.

Locals alleged army often uses private vehicles to carry out patrols in the villages.

The attack came immediately after government forces ended an intense search operation looking for militants in around two dozen villages of the district. The government forces comprising several companies of army, paramilitary and police carried out house-to-house searches. It also pressed into service military helicopters to carry out combing operation in orchards.

The massive hunt was carried out in the wake of a deadly attack on policemen, incidents of weapon snatching and a series of bank robberies.

Last week, videos released on the social networking sites showed groups of militants wearing combat fatigues marching inside orchards. Authorities suspect the video was shot in Shopian.

On Tuesday night, suspected militants stormed a police post guarding court complex in Shopian district and snatched five service rifles belonging to policemen deployed there.

Prior to that, militants killed five policemen and two security guards of bank after attacking a cash carrying vehicle belonging to Jammu and Kashmir Bank in adjacent Kulgam district.

A separatist movement and guerilla war challenging New Delhi's rule is going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989.

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