Kashmir rebels kill Indian policemen in attack on checkpoint

Police chief says one policeman and two paramilitary officers killed in the second attack within a week.

17 Aug 2020

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officers inspects the Vehicle after the attack [Nasir Kachroo/NurPhoto/Getty Images]

Rebels have attacked a security checkpoint in Indian-administered Kashmir, killing at least three policemen days after two security personnel were killed in the disputed Muslim-majority region's main city, Srinagar.

Kashmir Police Chief Vijay Kumar told Reuters news agency on Monday that rebels had attacked a security checkpoint north of Srinagar and killed one local policeman and two officers from the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

"We are developing leads and will neutralise the militants involved in the two attacks soon," he said.

Kumar added that security forces averted a major attack on Monday morning when they recovered an improvised explosive device planted under a bridge in Pulwama district south of Srinagar.

This month, Kashmir, claimed by both India and Pakistan, marked one year since New Delhi revoked its limited autonomy, raising tensions in a region where anti-India sentiment runs high. 

The revocation of the special status was followed by months of repression by the Indian administration, including the detention of politicians and activists as well as restrictions on movement and communications, to prevent a local backlash [Nasir Kachroo/NurPhoto/Getty Images]

Since the August 5 decision, New Delhi has changed domicile law to allow Indians from other states to buy property in Kashmir - something which had not been allowed earlier. Most Kashmiris see the move by India's Hindu-nationalist government as an attempt to bring demographic change in the Muslim-majority region.