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Policeman, 2 Civilians Killed in Kashmir Attacks

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, March 16: A policeman and two civilians were killed in two separate militant attacks in the Indian administered Kashmir on Tuesday.

The first attack took place in city centre Lal Chowk at around 1130 hours. "Militants fired towards paramilitary personnel at Koker Bazar in the city centre. Two soldiers and three civilians were injured in the shoot-out," a paramilitary officer said.

The injured were taken to different hospitals, where they were seen by doctors. One of the critically injured civilian identified as Khurshid Ahmad Parray succumbed to injuries in the hospital.

The doctors have termed the condition of the other injured civilian and a paramilitary soldier "life threatening".

Two militant groups, Al Nasreen and Farzandane Kashmir have claimed responsibility of the attack. A caller identifying himself as Samiul Haq called a local news gathering agencies in Srinagar and owned responsibility of the attack. He cautioned people to stay away from bunkers, pickets and vehicles of police and forces.

A few hours after the attack, a group of militants fired from automatic weapons towards a police party near General Bus Stand Sopore, some 54 kms North of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian administered Kashmir. "A policeman and a civilian were killed and five others injured the attack," a police officer said.

He said immediately after the attack, police and paramilitary soldiers laid siege around the area to flush out the militants. However, no arrests have been reported.

The attack was the 5th attack in Kashmir during past two weeks.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.