Militants Kill 3 in Historic New Delhi Fort

Guerrillas fighting for an independent Kashmir struck at India’s heart, killing two soldiers and a civilian guard at a historic fort in the capital, police said Saturday.

Two gunmen entered the Red Fort--a landmark that houses soldiers and civilians and draws thousands of tourists every day--and attacked an army supply depot Friday night, killing a guard, police said. Two soldiers were gunned down as they came out of the depot.

Other soldiers rushed out to return fire, but the gunmen escaped, police said. The military combed the fort for five hours but couldn’t find the attackers.

The Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based Islamic group fighting to separate the Himalayan region of Kashmir from Hindu-majority India, claimed responsibility in a statement faxed to the Islamabad office of the Associated Press.

“If India does not withdraw forces from Kashmir and end its repression, there will be similar attacks on its army headquarters and other military installations,” said spokesman Abu Usama.

The attack came two days after Pakistan announced that it would withdraw some of its troops from the volatile Kashmir border, in response to India’s offer to extend a cease-fire with Islamic militants in its portion of the divided territory.

Militants regularly attack Indian soldiers in the Kashmir valley and have been blamed for bombings in New Delhi, but attacks by gunmen are rare in the capital.

Authorities said it was the first time that militants attacked the Red Fort, a 17th century structure that was home to the country’s Mughal rulers for more than 200 years.