5 Indian security officers shot dead in Kashmir

Five Indian security personnel have been shot dead by suspected rebels in restive Indian-administered Kashmir in the past two days, police said yesterday, reports AFP from Srinagar.
Two police officers were on a routine patrol Saturday when rebels fired automatic weapons from a moving vehicle in southern Anantnag town, killing them on the spot.
“The attackers fled the area after the firing,” Javid Gillani, inspector general of police, told the news agency.
On Friday, three paramilitary soldiers from India’s Border Security Force were killed when militants fired bullets from automatic assault rifles at their moving convoy.
Friday’s attack was claimed by Hizbul Mujahideen, one of the region’s several rebel groups who have been fighting Indian forces for decades, seeking independence or a merger with Pakistan. Kashmir has been divided between rivals India and Pakistan since 1947. Both claim the disputed territory in its entirety.
Overall violence in the region has declined during the last decade, but armed encounters between rebels and government forces occur regularly.
In recent months the region has witnessed an uptick in rebel attacks on security forces with many dying on both sides.
On May 23, three policemen were shot dead at point-blank range in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir state, in the first such attacks in almost three years.
The attacks followed a weekend shootout in north Kashmir in which five militants and one Indian soldier were killed, taking to 44 the total number of separatist fighters killed this year in India’s most northerly region.
The three policemen were killed in two separate attacks in Srinagar. Militants fired at the cops from point-blank range.

5 Indian security officers shot dead in Kashmir

Five Indian security personnel have been shot dead by suspected rebels in restive Indian-administered Kashmir in the past two days, police said yesterday, reports AFP from Srinagar. Two police officers were on a routine patrol Saturday when rebels fired automatic weapons from a moving vehicle in southern Anantnag town, killing them on the spot. The attackers fled the area after the firing, Javid Gillani, inspector general of police, told the news agency. On Friday, three paramilitary soldiers from Indias Border Security Force were killed when militants fired bullets from automatic assault rifles at their moving convoy. Fridays attack was claimed by Hizbul Mujahideen, one of the regions several rebel groups who have been fighting Indian forces for decades, seeking independence or a merger with Pakistan. Kashmir has been divided between rivals India and Pakistan since 1947. Both claim the disputed territory in its entirety. Overall violence in the region has declined during the last decade, but armed encounters between rebels and government forces occur regularly. In recent months the region has witnessed an uptick in rebel attacks on security forces with many dying on both sides. On May 23, three policemen were shot dead at point-blank range in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir state, in the first such attacks in almost three years. The attacks followed a weekend shootout in north Kashmir in which five militants and one Indian soldier were killed, taking to 44 the total number of separatist fighters killed this year in Indias most northerly region. The three policemen were killed in two separate attacks in Srinagar. Militants fired at the cops from point-blank range.