SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- A policeman was killed and another wounded Saturday after militants attacked a police party in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.
The attack was carried out in the evening near bus stand in Anantnag town, about 52 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"This evening militants attacked a police party with gunfire which left a policeman dead on spot and his colleague wounded," a police spokesman at police control room, Anantnag told Xinhua. "The wounded policeman has been removed to hospital."
The attack triggered panic in the entire township, as people were seen fleeing from the spot to safer locations and shopkeepers pulling down shutters of their shops.
"I heard bursts of gunfire and saw people running away," Muddasir Ahmad, a shopkeeper said. "Scared I too pulled down the shutter of my shop and remained inside."
So far no militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The attack comes at a time when India's Federal Home Minister Rajnath Singh is on a four-day visit to the region. Singh arrived in Srinagar along with senior ministry officials in the morning and held meetings with region's Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and several other delegations.
Singh is scheduled to visit Anantnag on Sunday.
A guerilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. 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.
