Three Indian soldiers were killed and three others injured today when Muslim militants opened fire on military vehicles.
A female civilian was also injured in the attack.
A police spokesman said a group of soldiers and paramilitary troops had gone to the Muslim shrine of Shadra Sharif, in the Rajouri district 110 miles west of Jammu, the state's winter capital, to attend a community lunch.
As they were returning to their camp, they were ambushed by a group of rebels at Thanamandi in the same district.
The militants opened fire killing two soldiers immediately while a third died later, the spokesman said.
Militants fighting Indian rule in Kashmir have stepped up their attacks during ongoing state elections and have vowed to kill anyone taking part in the polls.
District went to the polls in the first round of a four-phase election on September 16th. The final round takes place Tuesday.
AFP