Three Indian Army personnel, including an officer, were killed when separatist guerrillas triggered a landmine in India-controlled Jammu and Kashmir Friday, the third day of the withdrawal of troops from the area, according to Indo-Asian News Service (IANS).

Police said a major and two soldiers were killed instantly when the guerrillas detonated a landmine in Surankote area of the border district of Poonch, 210 km from Jammu.

The landmine was triggered when an army patrol was passing through the area.

A captain was critically injured in the attack.

Indian troops began pulling out of the Kashmir Valley Nov. 17, coinciding with the first visit to the state by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Manmohan Singh had announced the reduction of troops in the militancy-hit state in New Delhi Nov 11.

Source: Xinhua