Eleven die in latest Kashmir violence

By Mukhtar Ahmad
Special to CNN

SRINAGAR, India -- Eight members of the Indian paramilitary were among eleven people killed in the latest violence in the Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Five members of the paramilitary central reserve police force (CRPF) died after driving over a landmine Sunday, senior police official K. Rajendra told CNN.

And in central Kashmir, three members of the paramilitary border security force died in a fierce gun battle with Moslem militants.

"The gun battle is still continuing," Rajendra said.

"Three soldiers died in the explosion on the spot. Two more succumbed to their injuries in the hospital," Rajendra said of the landmine incident.

Massive searches are underway in the area after the massive explosion, but that no one had admitted responsibility for the attack.

Sunday’s incidents follow the rejection of an offer by India for a dialogue by Kashmir’s separatist All Parties Huriyat Conference (APHC) group.

“Kashmir problem can be resolved only through tri-partite talks involving all the three parties-India, Pakistan and people of Kashmir,” the APHC said in a statement.

Immediately after the explosion senior Indian paramilitary officials rushed to the village with reinforcements.

Massive searches were ordered to find those responsible, but no-one has come forward.

Senior police officials say the situation in the troubled state has deteriorated after Indian prime minister announced a unilateral ceasefire in Kashmir in November last year.

The stepped-up violence in the troubled northernmost state has so far claimed the lives of 384 civilians.

In the fighting 200 police and Indian security force members and 387 militants have also been killed since November 28.

Kashmir: Where conflict rules

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