SRINAGAR: At least eight Indian paramilitary soldiers and two suspected militants were killed on Saturday near Srinagar when a group of armed men ambushed the soldiers’ convoy, police said.

Four militants sprayed bullets on the convoy carrying members of India’s Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) near Pampore town, killing five soldiers instantly and wounding 20, inspector general of police for the India-held region, Javaid Gillani, said.

A top regional police official said three others succumbed to their injuries later.

“The toll of CRPF personnel killed in the attack is now eight, after three more died of their injuries,” Rajendra Kumar, director general of police in the disputed region, said.

Another officer alleged that the assailants were Pakistani nationals, adding that the injured soldiers were taken to a nearby military hospital.

Hours before the violence, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was elected to the state parliament. She was appointed chief minister earlier this year after her father died in office but was required to win a local poll within six months to continue in the role.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2016