SRINAGAR - At least eight Indian paramilitary soldiers and two attackers were killed Saturday near Srinagar in India-occupied Kashmir when a group of armed gunmen ambushed the soldiers' convoy.
Four militants sprayed bullets on the convoy carrying members of India's Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) near Pampore town, killing five soldiers instantly and wounding 20, inspector general of police for the region, Javaid Gillani, told AFP.
A top regional police official said three others succumbed to their injuries later. "The toll of CRPF personnel killed in the attack is now eight, after three more died of their injuries," Rajendra Kumar, director general of police in the region said.
Another officer identified the attackers as Pakistani nationals, adding that the injured soldiers were taken to a nearby military hospital.
"We have killed two militants, that is what we are happy about at this time. Two others escaped the spot," said Nalin Prabhat, the inspector general for CRPF in the region.
Dr Abdullah Gaznavi, a spokesman for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), told Reuters by phone that the attack was carried out by members of the group's suicide squad. Gaznavi claimed 13 CRPF police officials were killed in the fighting that lasted for an hour.
Mehbooba Mufti, state chief minister, condemned Saturday's attack. "The only purpose of such blood-spattered acts of violence is to add to the tragedies and miseries of the people," she said in a statement.
Saturday's attack came after seven suspected rebels were killed in three separate gunbattles with government forces earlier this week in the north of the territory, according to the Indian army.
Hours before the violence, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was elected Saturday to the state parliament. She was appointed as chief minister earlier this year after her father died in office but was required to win a local poll within six months to continue in the role.
PAKISTAN HC FOR RESOLVING KASHMIR
Monitoring Desk adds: Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit shrugged off questions on the attack in Held Kashmir. “It’s the month of Ramazan, let’s focus on this Iftaar party. The issue of Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed issue between India and Pakistan. It’s an issue which needs to be resolved. We hope we will sit and discuss the issue and find a solution. Let’s have the iftaar party and enjoy ourselves,” Basit told the mediamen in New Delhi.
Surprisingly, top Hurriyat leadership from both the hardline and moderate factions was absent at the function hosted by the Pakistan High Commission.