Three police officials killed in Indian Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Suspected rebels shot and killed three police officers Monday after ambushing their vehicle in disputed Indian Kashmir, shortly after a separate incident left another officer critically injured, officials said.

The police officers were travelling to Amshipora village, 60 kilometres south of Srinagar, to probe a local land dispute when the ambush occurred.

The militants, dressed in army fatigues, first released unharmed two civilians who were travelling in the vehicle along with the driver before firing on the officers, inspector general of police Javid Gillani told AFP.

"They (police officers) were going for an investigation when their vehicle was ambushed. All the three were killed. They were unarmed," Gillani said.

Police and the army have launched a hunt for the militants whose attack came an hour after another police officer was shot and injured in a separate incident further north. “The militants fled after shooting the police officer when the bus stopped in a traffic jam,” the officer said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th, 2015.