Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=03/02/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-273229

TITLE=INDIA / KASHMIR ATTACK (S-only)

BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE

DATELINE=NEW DELHI

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: An ambush in Indian-administered Kashmir has killed at least 15 Indian policemen and wounded nine others. Police sources say two policemen are missing, and casualties may rise. Today's (Friday's) attack was launched just one week after India's prime minister extended a unilateral cease-fire in the region for another three months. V-O-A's Jim Teeple reports from New Delhi.

TEXT: The attack took place near the remote village of Kalaband, about 170 kilometers north of Jammu, the winter capital of India's state of Jammu and Kashmir.

A group of policemen had gone to the village to investigate reports that two civilians had been killed in the area. As they were returning to their base, they were ambushed by heavily armed separatist militants, who police say attacked with automatic weapons, grenades and rockets.

Friday's ambush is the worst incident of violence since India declared a unilateral cease-fire last November.

Separatist militant groups in Kashmir have rejected the cease-fire, which was extended last week, and have vowed to step up the violence.

Army troops have been deployed in the area to try and find those responsible for the attack. On Thursday, separatist militants killed seven people, including an Army colonel in another ambush near Srinigar, the summer capital of the state. (Signed)

NEB/JLT/WTW