Daily Times

SRINAGAR: Unidentified people killed two soldiers and a police officer in an ambush on a military convoy overnight in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK), an official said on Wednesday.

An unknown number of gunmen opened fire on two army trucks and a police vehicle travelling through Baramulla district, 60 kilometres west of Srinagar.

“Two soldiers and one police officer were killed and three others – two soldiers and another police officer – were injured,” district police superintendent Imtiaz Hussain told AFP. Security forces launched a major search for the attackers. Military convoys have been travelling more frequently at night in recent weeks through the region.

Meanwhile, a top UN human rights official expressed “deep regret” at the failure of Indian authorities to grant his team access to the Held Kashmir to probe the recent human rights violations.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein described as unfortunate a failure to independently assess the allegations that include use of excessive force and state sponsorship of violence.

“Without access we can only fear the worst,” Zeid said in a statement released in Geneva.

It may be mentioned here that gunmen shot and wounded 10 police officials on Monday who were trying to impose a curfew in Srinagar during India’s Independence Day.