On eve of PM visit,militants kill 8 unarmed Army men in Srinagar

A defence spokesman told The Indian Express that two or three militants targeted the convoy,that was on its way to Baramulla,near Hyderpora. Sources in Delhi said the soldiers had landed in Srinagar after their vacation and were returning to their units from the airport.

Chronology: Attacks ahead of VVIP visits to J&K

Officials said the attack took place around 4.30 pm when the militants,who were on a motorcycle,targeted the Army convoy near the Hyderpora bypass on the national highway.

The pheran-clad militants are believed to have snatched the motorcycle from two students before riding towards Hyderpora,sources said.

The militants flagged the Army vehicle near a private hospital on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway. The jawans stopped the vehicle thinking the men may be in need of some help,they said.

As the vehicle stopped,the men took out their assault rifles from under the pherans and fired indiscriminately. They also tossed a hand grenade and the firing continued for about 10 minutes.

The militants then fled on the bike and reached Bulbul Bagh Barzulla where a car was waiting for them to escape. Here,they came across a security check-point and opened fire,seriously injuring a CRPF sub-inspector and wounding a policeman before escaping in the car.

The attack came two days after militants shot dead two policemen on the crowded Hari Singh High Street. Police had since stepped up security,especially in Srinagar.

Prime Minister Singh is due to inaugurate the Qazigund-Banihal rail link Tuesday. He will also chair a high-level meeting of senior state Congress leaders and legislators and ministers.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said such high profile attacks were aimed at restoring the shattered morale of militants and demoralising security forces. A Hizbul Mujahideen spokesman told a local news agency that the group had formed death squads and more such attacks would follow.