Eight CRPF men die in Kashmir highway ambush

Eight Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers were killed and another 22 injured on Saturday after militants ambushed a CRPF convoy on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said.

 

Two militants were also killed in the gunfight, which is still on.

 

"A CRPF convoy on way to Srinagar was attacked by militants at Namblabal near Pampore town on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway," a senior police officer told IANS.

 

"The firing was returned and two militants were killed in the retaliatory action by the CRPF troopers," he said, adding the injured CRPF troopers were taken to hospital where eight succumbed to their injuries.

 

"Firing exchanges are still going on at the attack site as two militants are still reported to be firing at the security forces," he said.

 

Reinforcements have been rushed to the area to ensure that the surviving militants do not escape.

 

Traffic on the busy highway came to halt immediately after the attack, while tension has gripped nearby Pampore town. - IANS