Two dead in Kashmir terror strike (Second Lead)

SRINAGAR - Two people, including a policeman, were killed in a gunfight between separatist guerrillas and security personnel in north Kashmir’s Sopore town Friday after militants lobbed a grenade at a police station, officials said. Three people were hurt in the attack.

“Militants hurled a grenade at the Sopore police station in the morning. The grenade hit the roof of the building and then exploded at the entrance of the police station after rolling down,” a police officer told IANS.

“One Congress activist identified as Mohammad Lateef Mirchal was injured in the grenade explosion,” he said.

Once senior police officers reached the explosion site, guerrillas who were hiding in the vicinity opened fire, triggering a gun battle.

“Nearly 45 minutes after the grenade explosion, when the area superintendent of police reached the spot, the militants who were hiding in a lane fired at the security men, injuring four policemen and three civilians,” the officer said.

“The fire was returned by the police and the area has been cordoned off to carry out searches there,” he said. The official added that the exchange of fire had stopped.

Two people - a policeman and a civilian - were killed in the firing. The civilian was identified as Parveez Ahmad.

The explosion and the gun battle has led to tension in Sopore, 54 km from here. Security forces have been put on high alert and searches are on to trace the guerrillas responsible for the attack.