Four Indian policemen, two terrorists die in Kashmir attack

SRINAGAR (Reuters) – Four Indian paramilitary policemen and two terrorists were killed in a gun battle that ensued after insurgents stormed into a police training center in Kashmir on Sunday, a police official said.

At least two terrorists entered the building at around 2:30 a.m. at Letpora, south of Srinagar, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) spokesman Rajesh Yadhav told Reuters.

The terrorists fired indiscriminately and lobbed grenades before heading into the center, he said.

Two terrorists and four police were killed in the gun battle, he said.

CRPF special director-general S. N. Srinvastav said there could be one or more insurgents still hiding.

“We hope that we will conclude the operation as soon as possible,” he said.

S. P. Vaid, director-general of the Jammu and Kashmir police, said a search operation was going on, adding that they had received tip-offs about an impending terror strike in Kashmir for the past three days.

“They [the terrorists] were trying,” he said. “They probably could not get a place and time earlier. So, they struck last night.”

Insurgents have targeted police camps in Kashmir in recent months. Eight Indian police officials were killed when Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists attacked a security camp in southern Kashmir in August.

Indian troops have killed 206 insurgents this year, Vaid said. Last year’s total was 150.

India accuses Pakistan of training and arming terrorists and helping them infiltrate across the Line of Control that divides Kashmir. Pakistan denies those allegations.

The South Asian neighbors have fought two of their three wars since independence in 1947 over Muslim-majority Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part.