SRINAGAR, INDIA, APRIL 17 (SPA) - A SENIOR POLITICIAN IN INDIAN KASHMIR WAS WOUNDED AND ONE OF HIS GUARDS KILLED ON MONDAY IN AN ATTACK BY SUSPECTED SEPARATIST MILITANTS, POLICE SAID. THEY SAID THREE POLICE GUARDS WERE ALSO WOUNDED IN THE ATTACK WHICH CAME A WEEK AHEAD OF BY-ELECTIONS FOR FOUR SEATS FOR THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR STATE ASSEMBLY, INCLUDING ONE BEING CONTESTED BY STATE CHIEF MINISTER GHULAM NABI AZAD. "A VOLLEY OF GUNFIRE BY MILITANTS WOUNDED ALI MOHAMMAD NAIK AND HIS FOUR GUARDS," A POLICE OFFICER TOLD REUTERS. NAIK WAS COMING OUT OF HIS HOUSE WHEN HE WAS SHOT, HE SAID. NAIK, A FORMER LAWMAKER AND SENIOR LEADER OF KASHMIR’S MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY, NATIONAL CONFERENCE, WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL. --SPA 1125 Local Time 0825 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/354147