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15 killed in separate incidents as violence flares up in Kashmir

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January 22, 2001 

PATTAN-- (AP) -- Violence flared in the trouble-torn Jammu-Kashmir state with a bomb explosion in a bus near Srinagar killing six people and injuring 40 and fierce fighting in another part of the state claiming nine more lives on Sunday.

Four civilians and two army soldiers were killed and at least 40 people were injured when a bomb went off on a government bus traveling from Baramulla to Srinagar.

The bomb exploded about 40 kilometers north of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu-Kashmir state, where Islamic militants have been waging a war of independence since 1989.

At least 30 people and 10 Indian army soldiers were injured in the blast, some of whom were in critical condition. Three civilians died immediately. Two soldiers and one civilian died later in hospital.

Authorities said the blast occurred probably when militants triggered a land mine explosion.

The blast comes amid renewed efforts by India and Pakistan to resolve the situation in the disputed territory, which is claimed by both South Asian neighbors. A two-month cease-fire declared by India against the Islamic guerrillas is due to end on Jan. 26.

Also Sunday, six militants were killed and four security troops injured during fierce fighting between a group of guerrillas and security forces at Mishriwala on the outskirts of Jammu, the winter capital of the state.

The group of militants had entered Indian territory from Kanachak, a border post 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of Jammu. They began shooting when confronted by the security forces, police said. In another explosion Sunday, one policeman and two civilians were killed when militants hurled a grenade at a group of soldiers in Srinagar, police said. Twenty civilians were also injured in the attack.

Police said militants also set off an explosion outside the office of Kashmir's National Conference party early Sunday in Jammu. No one was killed or injured in the explosion, but the office building suffered some damage.

At least 30,000 people have been killed in India-controlled Kashmir, according to government figures, since the Islamic uprising began in 1989. Human rights activists say the death toll is closer to 60,000.