Thursday, June 16 2005 19:07 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: Three policemen died on Thursday (Jun 16, 2005) after being ambushed by militants in Kashmir and 11 people were wounded when a grenade tossed at a minister's car exploded among pedestrians, police said.

The rebels ambushed a police patrol at Budhal in the border district of Rajouri, 156 kilometres northwest of Jammu, said police spokesman J P Singh.

"We have recovered three dead bodies from the ambush site in Budhal and are looking for the four other constables who were part of the police team," said Singh.

"They are missing as of now...probably taking cover in the jungle after the militant firing," added Singh. "We have rushed troops to the area."

At least 11 pedestrians, including three jawans, were injured when a grenade hurled by militants missed its target and exploded on the road in Avantipore, 36 kilometres south of Srinagar.

"The rebels had hurled the grenade at Kashmir Junior Home Abdul Rehman Veeri's car but it fell short of the target. The Minister was not even travelling in the car at the time of the attack," said a police spokesman. "Three security personnel from the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force and eight civilians were wounded by the grenade explosion," he added.