Militants Hole Up İn Jammu-Kashmir School

By Zahid Rafiq



SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir (AA) - An Indian paramilitary officer was killed and two other personnel were wounded when militants attacked a paramilitary vehicle in Srinagar city in Jammu and Kashmir, according to police.





Police chief S.P. Vaid said the slain paramilitary was a sub-inspector.



The Lashkar-e-Toiba militant group claimed responsibility for the evening attack in Pantha Chowk area.





Militants reportedly were holed up in nearby Delhi Public School following the attack; the school is one of the biggest schools in Kashmir with around 400 rooms.



According to eyewitnesses, the Indian army later stormed the school compound in 12 bullet-proof and mine-resistant Casspir vehicles; a gunbattle between the military and militants at the school remains ongoing.



Kashmir, a Muslim-majority Himalayan region, is held by India and Pakistan in parts and claimed by both in full. A small sliver of Kashmir is also held by China.







The two countries have fought three wars -- in 1948, 1965 and 1971 -- since they were partitioned in 1947, two of which were fought over Kashmir.



Kashmiri resistance groups in Jammu and Kashmir have been fighting against Indian rule for independence, or for unification with neighboring Pakistan.



More than 70,000 people have reportedly been killed in the conflict since 1989. India maintains more than half a million troops in the disputed region. -