November 24, 2002	Sunday	Ramazan 18, 1423

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SRINAGAR, Nov 23: Twelve people, including six soldiers, were killed and 23 injured in occupied Kashmir on Saturday when their bus ran over a landmine planted by Mujahideen, authorities said.

The dead included the bus driver, three women and two children, all relatives of the soldiers. The death toll could rise, as most of the wounded were in critical condition, Indian officials said.

The attack came a day after two freedom fighters stormed a security camp and killed six soldiers before being gunned down.

An army spokesman said the civilian bus, hired by the army to transport a convoy of soldiers and their families from Srinagar to Jammu ran over the landmine near Qazigund town, 70 km south of Srinagar.

“The total injured are 23, of which at least 12 are in serious condition,” the spokesman said.

The Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen and Harkat-i-Jehad Islami claimed responsibility for the attack, a local news agency said.—Reuters