Five Indian Paramilitary Soldiers Killed In Kashmir Militant Attack

Five Indian paramilitary soldiers were killed Wednesday by militants, who opened fire on a security forces camp in Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir, police said.

Two militants were also killed in a gunfight following the attack on the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp and at least six more soldiers injured, news agencies reported citing the police.

Srinagar Deputy Superintendent of Police Manoj Pandita confirmed the attack to Reuters, which came after weeks of curfew imposed in parts of the Kashmir Valley as a precautionary measure to foil plans of separatists to hold protests in the aftermath of the execution of Afzal Guru, a Kashmiri Muslim convicted for attack on Indian Parliament in 2001, and the killing of a student in northern Kashmir.

Pandita told Reuters that the number of militants involved in the attack remained unclear, which was launched at around 10:30 a.m. local time and continued for more than an hour.

Several separatist groups have been holding protests seeking return of mortal remains of Guru and JKLF (Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front) founder Mohammad Maqbool Bhat to their families.

Guru and Bhat were hanged and buried inside New Delhi’s Tihar Jail Feb. 9 this year and Feb. 11, 1984 respectively.

Wednesday's militant attack happened in the aftermath of a curfew that was also imposed in lieu of death of a 25-year-old man in Baramulla district of northern Kashmir March 5, in security forces firing when protestors were demonstrating against the hanging of Guru.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the Mar. 13 attack.