Nine including 5 activists die in India held-Kashmir
Pakistan Times Kashmir Desk

SRINAGAR: Nine people, including five activists were killed in fresh violence in revolt-hit India held-Kashmir as authorities set free on Monday 30 jailed separatists, police said.

A police spokesman said rebels attacked a police station in the town of Mendhar in the southern district of Poonch late Sunday with grenades and machine guns.

“Policemen returned the fire, sparking a fierce, three hour-long gunbattle,” he said.

Two persons, one policemen and a civilian were killed in the attack while two policemen were injured.

Meanwhile, suspected people shot dead a policeman in an attack near his residence in southern Anantnag district late Sunday, police said.

Police said Indian troops also shot dead three freedom fighters in the districts of Baramulla and Kupwara that same evening.

In another violence, suspected 'rebels' killed a 14-year-old Muslim girl and injured her mother in a shooting at their house late Sunday, police said.

Bloodshed has continued despite an 18-month peace process between India and Pakistan aimed at resolving all their disputes, including Kashmir, the trigger of two of the three wars between the countries.

The nuclear-armed rivals each hold the region in part but claim it in full.

Meanwhile, Indian Kashmir authorities Monday set free 30 jailed rebels and separatists from different jails, an official spokesman said.

“They were released after a screening committee set-up by the government recommended their names,” he said.

Recap

An earlier report said, two activists were among five people killed in attacks on a remote police station and the home of a policeman in revolt-hit India held-Kashmir.

A police spokesman said suspected rebels attacked a police station in the town of Mendhar in the southern district of Poonch late Sunday with grenades and machine guns.

"Policemen returned the fire, sparking a fierce three-hour long gunbattle in the district," he said on Monday.

In the police station attack, two militants, one policemen and a civilian were killed.

In other violence, suspected rebels shot dead another policeman in an attack near his residence in southern Anantnag district late Sunday, police said.

India held-Kashmir is in the grip of an insurgency against New Delhi's rule that has left tens of thousands dead since 1989.

Bloodshed has continued despite an 18-month peace process between India and Pakistan aimed at resolving all their disputes, including Kashmir, the trigger of two of the three wars between the countries.●