Militants kill 2 army men, 1 cop in ambush in Kashmir

Two soldiers and a policeman were killed and three others injured in an ambush by militants today in Kashmir where the situation otherwise was by and large peaceful amid curfew and restrictions in various places.
The militants struck at an army convoy at Khwajabagh in Baramulla district at around 2.30 AM, a police official said.
Two army men and a policeman were killed in the attack while two soldiers and a policeman were injured, the official said.
An operation was undertaken to track down the attackers but they had managed to flee.
Normal life, meanwhile, remained paralysed for the 40th consecutive day in the valley where 63 people have been killed in the ongoing unrest.

"The law and order situation remained under control throughout Kashmir valley today," a police spokesman said.

He said stone-pelting incidents were reported from Warpora in Sopore area of Baramulla district and Brein-Nishat on the banks of Dal Lake here in Srinagar.
Security personnel chased away the stone-pelting youth at both the places, the spokesman said, adding there was no report of any casualty.
Magam area of Budgam district, where four persons were killed in firing by security forces yesterday on violent mobs, was placed under curfew today.
Curfew also remained in force in Srinagar district and Anantnag town, a police official said.

Restrictions on the movement of the people were in place in the rest of the Valley, he said.
Police thwarted an attempt by separatist Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to defy house arrest and take out a march to the office of United Nations Military Observers Group (UNMOG) here.
Heavy deployment of security forces was carried out in Srinagar city with all roads leading to the UNMOG office at Sonawar sealed.
The separatists groups have called for a march to the UN office here to impress upon the global body to intervene and resolve the Kashmir issue.
Schools, colleges and private offices remained closed while public transport remained off the roads due to the strike called by the separatists. The attendance in government offices was thin.

Internet and mobile services across the Valley remained suspended. While broadband services were snapped on Saturday evening, the mobile telephony was suspended late in the night on the same day.