Suspected militants kill 3 youth in Indian-controlled Kashmir

SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Suspected militants shot dead three youth in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said Tuesday.

The trio was killed Monday night at Baramulla town, about 60 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Last night militants fired upon three youth from a point-blank range here killing them on the spot," a senior police official posted in Baramulla told Xinhua. "The three were identified as local civilians."

Following the killings, police cordoned off the area to nab assailants. However, so far no arrests were made.

"Preliminary investigation reveals complicity of Lashkar-e-Toiba in the case," a police spokesman said. "One foreigner and two local militants are the principal suspects in this case and an investigation is underway in the matter."

So far no militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Last week a political leader was killed and two policemen serving as his security guards were wounded in the region.

Militants in the region usually target families and individuals for their possible links with Indian police and defense agencies. Even people having associations with pro-India political parties are targeted at times.

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. Enditem