New Delhi - Six Indian soldiers, including a major, were killed by Islamic guerrilla fighters who attacked the main army base in northern Kashmir state's capital Srinagar late last evening, writes Rahul Bedi. Police officials said the group of around 10 Muslim insurgents belonging to the Lashkar-e-Toiba (Army of the Pure) and soldiers were fighting pitched battles with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades inside the Badami Bagh cantonment, headquarters of the army's XV corps till late last night.
The heavily armed Islamists reportedly blew up some of the buildings inside the cantonment. Maj P. Purshottam, a popular public relations officer for the corps, and two of his assistants were the first to be shot dead by the militants who scaled the army base's walls around 6 p.m. local time.
Three local photographers who were visiting the major are also missing. The attack came a few hours after Lieut Gen Krishen Pal, the corps commander, had denied reports that militants had crossed into India from neighbouring Pakistan.