2 civilians wounded in militant attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir

Two civilians were wounded Wednesday in a militant attack on a police station in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said. The attack was carried out at Awantipora in district Pulwama, around 28 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian- controlled Kashmir. Reports said police personnel guarding police station also retaliated to firing from militants, triggering an exchange. "Two civilians were injured when militants fired indiscriminately in Awantipora Bazar this afternoon," a police spokesman said. "Both the injured have been shifted to the hospital for treatment and both of them are stable so far." Police sources said Inspector General of police was in the police station an hour before the attack. The firing created panic in the area and people were seen rushing away from the spot, locals said. Huge contingents of police and Indian army were rushed to the spot to carry out searches. However reports said militants have managed to escape from the spot after carrying out the attack. So far, no militant outfit has claimed responsibility of the attack. This was the third militant attack in restive region during the past three days. On Monday militants killed a policeman and a paramilitary trooper of India's Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and wounded another, besides snatching service rifles from them. Militants occasionally target police and paramilitary troopers in Indian-controlled Kashmir. A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troopers stationed in the region since 1989. However, of late Indian policemen too have been trained to fight militants.