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

Srinagar, Aug 17 (PTI) Two soldiers and a policeman werekilled and three others injured in an ambush by militantstoday in Kashmir where the situation otherwise was by andlarge peaceful amid curfew and restrictions in various places. The militants struck at an army convoy at Khwajabagh inBaramulla district at around 2.30 AM, a police official said. Two army men and a policeman were killed in the attackwhile two soldiers and a policeman were injured, the officialsaid. An operation was undertaken to track down the attackersbut they had managed to flee. Normal life, meanwhile, remained paralysed for the 40thconsecutive day in the valley where 63 people have been killedin the ongoing unrest. "The law and order situation remained under controlthroughout Kashmir valley today," a police spokesman said. He said stone-pelting incidents were reported fromWarpora in Sopore area of Baramulla district and Brein-Nishaton the banks of Dal Lake here in Srinagar. Security personnel chased away the stone-pelting youth atboth the places, the spokesman said, adding there was noreport of any casualty. Magam area of Budgam district, where four persons werekilled in firing by security forces yesterday on violent mobs,was placed under curfew today. Curfew also remained in force in Srinagar district andAnantnag town, a police official said. Restrictions on the movement of the people were in placein the rest of the Valley, he said. Police thwarted an attempt by separatist Hurriyat leaderMirwaiz Umar Farooq to defy house arrest and take out a marchto the office of United Nations Military Observers Group(UNMOG) here. Heavy deployment of security forces was carried out inSrinagar city with all roads leading to the UNMOG office atSonawar sealed. The separatists groups have called for a march to the UNoffice here to impress upon the global body to intervene andresolve the Kashmir issue. Schools, colleges and private offices remained closedwhile public transport remained off the roads due to thestrike called by the separatists. The attendance in governmentoffices was thin. Internet and mobile services across the Valley remainedsuspended. While broadband services were snapped on Saturdayevening, the mobile telephony was suspended late in the nighton the same day. PTI MIJ DV AKKAKK