6 troopers wounded in militant attack on army convoy in Kashmir

At least six army troopers were wounded Saturday after militants attacked their convoy in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, the police said.

The Indian army convoy was attacked at Lower Munda area of Qazigund town in Anantnag district, about 77 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Today militants attacked an army convoy near Lower Munda, wounding six personnel," a police official at police control room (PCR) Kulgam told Xinhua, "The wounded troopers were immediately evacuated from the spot to the nearest medical facility."

Reports said that following the attack, militants escaped from the spot unhurt.

In wake of the attack, traffic on the highway was suspended and search operation to trace the militants was started, the police said.

"The area has been cordoned off and search are being carried out to trace the militants responsible for the attack," the official said.

Militants often attack police and army in the region.

On Tuesday two militants were killed in a gunfight in the region.

Last week, eight militants including a top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militant outfit were killed in two separate gunfights in the region.

Militant groups opposing New Delhi's rule are engaged in a guerilla war with Indian troops in the region since 1989. Gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently. 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.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)