Seven killed in Kashmir ambush

Indian paramilitary officer stands guard on a Srinagar street

By Mukhtar Ahmad
Special to CNN.com

SRINAGAR, Kashmir -- Seven people were killed in Kashmir after a police vehicle was attacked by Muslim militants in the troubled Himalayan state.

The militants rained bullets on the heavily guarded vehicle Friday, killing six policemen and one civilian bystander near the southern village of Danwatpora, a senior officer told CNN.com.

The attack comes one day after a unilateral ceasefire was extended by Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for three months.

Search operation launched

Another officer received serious injuries and has been taken to hospital in the state's summer capital, Srinagar.

Senior police and Indian security force officers rushed to the spot with reinforcements and a massive combing operation has been ordered.

Sources said the militants fled with the weapons of the police guards who died in the ambush.

No group has yet admitted responsibility for the attack.

Ceasefire rejected

Various frontline militant groups in Kashmir have rejected the three-month ceasefire extension and have threatened to continue their attacks.

On Thursday the chairman of the Kashmiri separatist conglomerate All Parties Huriyat Conference (APHC) Professor Abdul Gani Bhat escaped an attempt on his life.

Timely detection of a handgrenade tied to the vehicle saved Bhat and nine others.

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