Nine killed in wave of Kashmir violence

ISLAMIC rebels set off an explosion near an army convoy yesterday, wounding 40 Indian soldiers and three civilians in the most visible attack in Kashmir’s summer capital Srinagar since India and Pakistan entered a border truce in the divided province.

Nine other people were killed in shootouts elsewhere in Kashmir, taking the death toll to 185 since the two countries entered the November 26 ceasefire that raised hopes for peace in the Himalayan territory.

Rebels triggered the explosives as a bus carrying soldiers passed by on a major highway, said senior police officer Mohammed Amin.