SRINAGAR: At least three paramilitary troopers were killed in an attack by militants in India-administered Kashmir on Saturday, police said on Sunday (April 19).



The rebels opened fire on Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel at a check point in Sopore, a town in the Baramulla district.



They fled moments after the attack.



Two CRPF men died on the scene and another succumbed to his injuries at a hospital, a local police officer said.



Three more soldiers were injured and are receiving medical attention.



This was the third attack targeting security forces in the Kashmir valley in the past week, and comes amid a nationwide lockdown in India to check the spread of the novel coronavirus.



Indian police recently commented that while medical workers and doctors were fighting the coronavirus, Indian security forces are fighting the "terror virus from Pakistan.”



India accuses Pakistan of aiding the militants and helping them cross the border to carry out attacks in India-administered Kashmir.



Islamabad denies the charges and describes the militants as freedom fighters. The two nuclear-armed neighbours both claim the whole of the divided Kashmir region, and have fought two wars over it. - dpa

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