Militant attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir leaves three dead

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A militant attack on an Indian Border Security Force (BSF) camp in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir killed an Indian border guard and injured three policemen, police said. Two militants were also killed in the attack.

The gunmen believed to be fidayeen (suicide attackers) militants indiscriminately used heavy gunfire and grenades while entering the border guards' camp, which is near a highly fortified Indian air force station and an international airport at Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Two militants have been killed and, during the searches, we found the body of a BSF assistant sub inspector," a police official said. "Three BSF personnel and a policeman were also wounded in today's attack."

An Indian army soldier tries to keep the media away from the site of a gun battle near a security camp in which Indian authorities say suspected militants are holed up, on the outskirts of Srinagar, October 3, 2017. /Reuters Photo

According to police officials, three to four militants were suspected to have entered the camp in order to carry out the assault, which happened at around 3:45 a.m. local time.

"The firing has stopped but we know where the militants are hiding," a senior police official told the media.

Authorities have sealed the routes leading to Srinagar airport and operations at the airport have been suspended.

"Employees working at the airport have been allowed to proceed but flight operations are yet to be resumed," the police official said. "The morning flights were suspended."

Reports said the army used helicopters in the area to take on militants.

Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh has reportedly called a high-level meeting at 11.30 a.m. to discuss the situation in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

The identity of the attackers has yet to be ascertained but the Jaish-e-Mohammad militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Indian army soldiers take their positions near a security camp in which Indian authorities say suspected militants are holed up, during a gun battle on the outskirts of Srinagar, October 3, 2017. /Reuters Photo

In August this year, four paramilitary troopers of India's Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), four policemen and two militants were killed in a similar attack on police lines in southern Pulwama district.

A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in the region since 1989. However, recently, Indian policemen too have been trained to fight them also.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain in 1947, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.

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Source(s): Xinhua News Agency