Indian Police blame Pakistan for strife that killed 12
Police in India's territory of Jammu and Kashmir blamed arch rival Pakistan for a spurt in militant attacks that killed 12 people and injured dozens over the last three days, just weeks after a large turnout for India's general elections.
Pakistan lays claim to the Himalayan region, which has experienced militant activity since the 1989 onset of an anti-Indian insurgency that has claimed tens of thousands of lives. Although violence has diminished in recent years, tensions remain high.
'Our hostile neighbor wants to damage our peaceful environment,' stated Anand Jain, the police chief of Jammu, implicating Pakistan, which India has long accused of inciting unrest in the region.
Authorities reported that gunfights on Tuesday led to the deaths of two militants and a paramilitary soldier, along with injuries to a civilian and six security personnel.
These incidents occurred two days after an attack on a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims to a shrine, which left nine dead and 41 injured, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in for a third term.
The recent violence has sparked criticism of Modi from opposition parties, who are calling for decisive action against the attackers.
'Unless we talk to our neighbors, we will not be able to solve the problem,' said Farooq Abdullah, a former chief minister of the region, in an interview with news agency ANI.
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