SRINAGAR, Nov 7: Two Indian paramilitary policemen were shot dead by suspected militants on Thursday while they were on patrol in disputed Kashmir, police said.

The attack took place on a highway in Awantipora, some 32km from Srinagar.

Police said the guerillas appeared to have approached the road by river. “We’re ascertaining exactly what happened,” police inspector general Abdul Gani Mir said.

Paramilitary inspector general Nalin Prabhat said the militants sprayed the personnel with automatic fire before they could respond.

Police and paramilitary soldiers cordoned off the area after the incident and launched an investigation.

No militant group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Last week, a top Kashmiri police official warned that militancy could intensify in the disputed area, with India alleging some 80 militants recently crossed the Line of Control from Pakistan.—Agencies