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J&K: 2 CRPF soldiers killed in ambush
By Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar
December 22, 2008

Two Central Reserve Police Force soldiers were killed in a terrorist ambush attack in north Kashmir's apple-rich Sopore town on Monday.

"A CRPF patrol party was fired upon by terrorists near the bus stand in Sopore town on Monday afternoon, critically wounding two troopers. The injured soldiers succumbed to injuries in the hospital," a senior police officer said.

The officer added that terrorists had fired at the CRPF patrol in the town from a close range. The area has now been cordoned off and search operation is underway to trace the terrorists.

Markets in the busy Sopore town were immediately closed after the shootout as tension gripped the entire area.

Meanwhile, authorities imposed curfew-like restrictions in the old city Nowhatta area of summer capital Srinagar to prevent anti-poll protests on the eve of the voting scheduled for the eight constituencies of capital city on Wednesday.

The decision was taken after Sunday's violence in old city areas where protesting mobs had snatched the rifle of a guard assigned for security of an independent candidate.

Additional reinforcements of police and CRPF were rushed to rescue the two police guards of the contesting candidate and restore order in the area.

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar
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