Four CRPF troopers killed in Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 30 : Four paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers were killed and another critically injured when guerrillas ambushed a patrol party in north Kashmir's Sopore town Wednesday, police said.

Police said guerrillas waiting in ambush in an apple orchard fired at a road opening party (ROP) of the CRPF in Warpora locality of Sopore town Wednesday afternoon, 54 km from here.

"Two CRPF jawans died on the spot while three others sustained bullet injuries in the attack. The injured troopers were shifted to the hospital where two of them later succumbed to their injuries," a police officer said.

"The fifth CRPF trooper injured in the attack is battling for life in the hospital," the police officer told IANS.

The guerrillas also fled with two automatic rifles belonging to the slain CRPF troopers.

The area has been cordoned off and senior police and CRPF officers rushed to the spot immediately after the incident.

An improvised explosive device (IED) explosion Tuesday rocked Sopore town. Though there was no casualty, tension gripped the entire area after the blast.