2 killed, 3 injured as army fights militants

srinagar — Militants attacked an Indian army camp and an armoured vehicle, leading to fighting in Indian-administered Kashmir, police said on Monday. A soldier and a civilian were killed and three soldiers were wounded.

The deaths occurred overnight during fighting that followed a militant attack on an army camp in southern Kakpora village, said a police official who spoke under anonymity because they weren’t authorised to speak to the media.

Clashes also erupted as some youths threw stones at government forces who fired teargas to quell the protests.

No one was immediately reported injured.

Separately, militants detonated a bomb by remote control targeting an Indian army armoured vehicle in the volatile Shopian area on Monday, the police official said. The soldiers in the vehicle were patrolling the area.

Three soldiers, including an army officer, were wounded in the blast, which extensively damaged the vehicle.

Civilian killed

A civilian identified as Bilal Ahmad Ganai, a taxi driver was killed in the cross fire between the militants and the security forces. “In a cowardly and provocative act of terror, terrorists carried out a stand-off attack on the Kakapora Army Camp on Sunday. One soldier was killed in the brief encounter that followed the attack,” Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said.

Taking advantage of the prevailing darkness, the militants managed to escape.

Mobile Internet suspended

Following the civilian death, authorities on Monday suspended mobile Internet services in the district.

Rail services passing through Pulwama have also been suspended as a precautionary measure.

On Monday, thousands of residents participated in the funeral of the civilian.

The attacks come despite India declared a ceasefire during the ongoing holy month of Ramadan. Militants have rejected the government’s ceasefire, calling it a “drama”. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training the militants, a charge Pakistan denies. —