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JAMMU, Nov 18: Kashmiri freedom fighters ambushed an Indian army convoy, killing 10 soldiers and injuring 24 others on a key highway in occupied Kashmir on Sunday, a defence ministry spokesman said.
Mujahideen, who were disguised as roadside vendors, lobbed grenades at the convoy in the afternoon while it was travelling on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, which lies 180 kilometres east of Jammu.
Other Mujahideen hiding on hill tops simultaneously opened fire at the soldiers.
Nine soldiers died at the site of the ambush and one succumbed to his injuries later in hospital, the spokesman said. Three civilians also died in the attack.
A further 25 injured were taken by the police to a military hospital at Udhampur, 96 kilometres from Jammu.
As Indian security forces launched a massive manhunt to track down the attackers. Lashkar-i-Taiba, told AFP his group had carried out the attack.
Abu Osama, speaking from Srinagar, said only two Mujahideen were involved in the attack and they managed to safely reach their hideout after carrying out the ambush.
13 SHOT DEAD: In separate incidents Indian security forces shot dead 13 Kashmiri fighters, a police spokesman said.
Indian troops shot dead four heavily-armed Kashmiris after a six-hour gunbattle at Girja Chaprawan village in the southern Kashmir district of Rajouri on Saturday, the spokesman said.
“The gunbattle erupted when the Kashmiris opened fire at the troops who asked them to surrender after surrounding their hideout,” he said.
In another incident troops shot dead four Mujahideen in Nangla village, he said.
Troops also shot dead a Kashmiri fighter identified as Rafeeq Ahmed, in Gandana village in Doda district, he said.
An Indian soldier was killed and six others injured on Sunday in two separate ambushes by Mujahideen in Kupwara.
Police said suspected Kashmiris shot dead two persons in Rajouri and Kupwara districts on Sunday.
Elsewhere in occupied Kashmir, four more militants were killed by Indian security personnel, the spokesman said.—AFP
