Suspected Muslim militants opposed to Indian-held elections in Kashmir killed two more pro-India political activists ahead of this month's vote, police said. Three civilians and a militant were killed elsewhere in the state.
Two to three suspected militants knocked at the residence of Mr Najeeb Abbas Khan, the candidate of the pro-India People's Democratic Party (PDP), in the Amira Kadal constituency in the summer capital Srinagar. When his chief election adviser came to the door, he was shot several times by the gunmen, killing him on the spot.
The vice chairwoman of the PDP, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, claimed the attack was carried out by former militants who work with the Indian counter-insurgency police. "This is being done by the ruling party to terrorise us," she said, demanding the disarming of pro-India militants.
Militants have threatened to kill those participating in the upcoming polls, which begin September 16th and close October 8th.
Meanwhile, three civilians were killed overnight when they were caught in the crossfire between Indian forces and rebels in Kashmir.
Troops had been tipped off that there were militants at Azmadabad in Rajouri district along Pakistani-administered Kashmir. The militants fired on the troops as soon as they cordoned off the area, and three civilians who were caught in the fire were killed, police said. A militant was also killed in southern Anantnag district.
At least 36,500 people have died in an Islamic insurgency in Indian-administered Kashmir since 1989, security forces say. Separatists put the death toll twice as high.
AFP