At least eight Indian paramilitary soldiers and two suspected militants were killed Saturday near occupied Srinagar when a group of armed militants ambushed the soldiers' convoy, police said. Four militants sprayed bullets on the convoy carrying members of India's Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) near Pampore town, killing five soldiers instantly and wounding 20, inspector general of police for the region, Javaid Gillani, told AFP. A top regional police official said three others succumbed to their injuries later.
"The toll of CRPF personnel killed in the attack is now eight, after three more died of their injuries," Rajendra Kumar, director general of police in the region said. Saturday's attack came after seven suspected militants were killed in three separate gunbattles with government forces earlier this week in the north of the territory, according to the Indian army. Hours before the violence, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was elected Saturday to the state parliament. She was appointed as chief minister earlier this year after her father died in office but was required to win a local poll within six months to continue in the role.