People carry a wounded municipal councillor on a stretcher inside a hospital for treatment in Srinagar city, Indian-controlled Kashmir, March 29, 2021. A municipal councillor and a policeman were killed, while another councillor wounded on Monday in a militant attack in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said. (Photo: Xinhua/Javed Dar)
SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, March 29 (Xinhua) -- A municipal councillor and a policeman were killed, while another councillor wounded on Monday in a militant attack in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.
The councillors were attacked inside the premises of Municipal Council Sopore of Baramulla district, about 50 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"Today militants fired upon councillors in Sopore Municipal Office. In this incident, policeman Shafqat Ahmad and councillor Riyaz Ahmad were killed," a police official said. "Another councillor Shams-ud-din Peer was wounded and he was removed to hospital."
Following the attack, contingents of police and paramilitary were rushed to the spot to nab the attackers.
"Area has been cordoned off and search are underway for the militants," the police official said.
However, it seems the terrorists have managed to escape.
Reports said the councillors had assembled inside the office premises for a meeting.
The slain policeman was part of the security deployed outside the meeting venue.
Last week two paramilitary troopers belonging to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed and two others wounded in a militant attack in Srinagar city.
On Saturday night two militants and an Indian army trooper were killed in a fierce gunfight in Shopian district.
A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in the region since 1989.
The militants often target government force personnel either with grenade attacks or resort to firing. The gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently across the region.
Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. Enditem
People take out a wounded municipal councillor from an ambulance for treatment after arriving at a hospital in Srinagar city, Indian-controlled Kashmir, March 29, 2021. A municipal councillor and a policeman were killed, while another councillor wounded on Monday in a militant attack in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said. (Photo: Xinhua/Javed Dar)