Indo-Pak troops trade fire: 3 killed
Suspected Islamic militants killed two Muslims in restive Kashmir while Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged heavy artillery fire overnight in which one aid worked got killed in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, police sources said Thursday.
Suspected militants killed Abdul Rashid Khan by slitting his throat in the village of Sumblar, near the northern township of Bandipora, 60 kilometres (38 miles) north of the summer capital Srinagar.
Police said Khan was working as a labourer with the Indian army and militants suspected him of passing information to the military.
In the neighbouring village of Ahem Sharief, suspected rebels shot dead another Muslim, Manzoor Ahmed.
"The motive behind the killing is being investigated," a police officer told AFP.
Two Indian army soldiers in a vehicle on patrol were also injured in a mine explosion triggered by Muslim militants in the southern district of Pulwama Thursday, police said.
Meanwhile, Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged artillery fire over the Line of Control (LoC) -- the defacto border dividing the disputed region between them -- late Wednesday in the northern sector of Keran.
Police said Muslim resident Nissar Joo was injured in the Nangamandi village in Keran when his house received a direct hit.
"Indian troops returned the fire and the exchange of fire continued for several hours," a police officer said.
India and Pakistan frequently exchange fire along the 742-kilometre (460 mile) long LoC.
The nuclear rivals have fought two of their three wars over the Himalayan region.
Another report from Muzaffarabad says, a local worker of a London-based Islamic aid group was killed and his driver injured by shelling in the Pakistani-administered part of Kashmir, police said Thursday.
Zulfikar Ali, 40, who worked for the Islamic Relief organisation died when his vehicle was hit during overnight shelling near the Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir, senior police officer Raja Ghulam Sarwar told AFP.
The aid worker was hit near Lala village, 80 kilometers (50 miles) northeast of here, as he travelled to Athmuqam in the Neelum valley.
The valley straddles the LoC and its main road remains closed to traffic because it lies in the range of India's small arms fire.
However, some drivers take the risk of using it in the dark, with headlights off. Sarwar said the aid worker, a local resident, died on the spot.
Islamic Relief has been engaged in projects aimed at boosting local economic activities, officials said.
Tension remains high between Indian and Pakistani troops stationed in Kashmir state, which is claimed by both countries and has been the cause of two of their three wars since 1947.
India accuses Pakistan of fomenting a separatist movement in Kashmir, which has claimed more than 36,000 lives since 1989.
Pakistan denies the charge and says it only extends political, moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris' "legitimate struggle."
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