SRINAGAR – A soldier was killed and three others injured in two separatemilitant attacks on the army in south Kashmir’s Pulwamalink>andShopian districts in the last 24 hours. This is the first army casualtyafter the government announced to halt operations against militants duringRamzan.

A civilian was also killed in the exchange of firing between militants andforces.

On Sunday night, militants attacked the army camp of 50 Rashtriya Rifles atKakapora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Army said in the attack onesoldier identified as Vikram Singh was injured. He later succumbed to hisinjuries in the Base hospital.

In the exchange of firing, a civilian Bashir Ahmad Gania was also killed.Gania, a driver by profession, was travelling in his cab along with hisbrother when he was killed. Police said 26-year-old Gania was killed in theexchange of firing between militants and the forces. Militants, however,managed to escape from the spot under the cover of darkness.

Army spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia termed the attack as a provocative act ofterror. “In a standoff attack on Kakapora army camp one soldier lost hislife,’’ he said.

Hundreds of villagers participated in the funeral of Gania who was buriedin his native village amid chanting of pro-freedom slogans on Monday.Fearing protests over civilian killing authorities suspended mobileinternet in Pulwama district.