Indian troops die in raid on camp

Troops rarely come under attack in India

Suspected militants have attacked a paramilitary camp in northern India, killing seven soldiers, officials say.

The attackers, dressed as soldiers, arrived at the camp in Rampur, in Uttar Pradesh state, during the night. At least six soldiers were injured.

Although soldiers are often targeted in Indian-administered Kashmir, such attacks are rare in India.

Correspondents say the raid is the first ever against troops in Uttar Pradesh. The attackers escaped.

The attack, on Tuesday morning, was meticulously planned, the Hindustan Times newspaper reported.

Intelligence warning

The militants were dressed in soldiers' uniform, the paper quoted the district magistrate, Ramsajeevan, as saying.

They first threw hand grenades, killing a rickshaw puller sleeping near the main gate, he said.

Under cover of heavy gunfire, they entered the control room near the gate and opened fire indiscriminately, he added.

No group has said it carried out the attack, but officials blame it on Islamic militant groups active in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Indian home ministry officials said there had been a specific intelligence warning about a militant attack on centres of paramilitary troops.

Newspaper reports, quoting unnamed officials, said security at the Rampur camp could have been tighter.

The state's chief minister, Mayawati, said the camp had been warned of a threat and accused the force of "carelessness".

"When there was a terrorist threat, the paramilitary force should have been careful," she said.