Two Indian paramilitary troopers, including a sub-inspector, were killed and two others injured in a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on Thursday, police said.

In a statement, police said militants attacked a vehicle of the Central Reserve Police Force on national highway in the capital Srinagar, critically injuring four personnel. The wounded were moved to a hospital, where two of them succumbed to their injuries.

A case has been registered, and a search for the attackers initiated.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the attack was planned and carried out by the militants affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba group, the press release added.

Kashmir police chief Vijay Kumar paid tribute to the slain soldiers, and vowed to stand by their families at “this critical juncture.”

Kashmir is held by India and Pakistan in parts but claimed by both in full. Since they were partitioned in 1947, the two countries have fought three wars, two of them over Kashmir.

Some Kashmiri groups have been fighting against Indian rule for independence, or unification with neighboring Pakistan.

According to several human rights organizations, thousands of people have been killed in the conflict that flared up in 1989./aa