Fifteen civilians and seven soldiers were injured Saturday when separatist Muslim militants attacked an Army convoy in Kashmir, sparking a fierce gunbattle, a police spokesman said.
Police said militants, equipped with rifles and grenades launched the attack at Azad Gunj locality of Baramulla town, 55 kilometres north of Srinagar.

In the initial exchange, seven Army soldiers were injured. A patrol party of the Border Security Force, which was on the move in the area, also fired at the militants, police said.

During the exchange, 15 civilians were injured, five of them critically, after they strayed into the area of the encounter, police said.

The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals.
"The exchange of fire is continuing," a police spokesman said, adding the fighting in the town sparked panic and everyone in the locality had taken cover.
The entire area has been sealed by the Army, para-military and counter-insurgency police and possible escape routes had been sealed, police said.

Bureau Report