Fayaz Bukhari
Pampore, Feb 20: Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and one employee of Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) were killed and 13 CRPF men including an Assistant Commandant injured in a militant attack in Pampore area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on the National Highway in the outskirts of Srinagar.
The Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Syed Javed Mujtaba Geelani told Excelsior that two CRPF men and an employee of EDI was killed and 12 CRPF men including an officer were injured in the militant attack.
The Public Relations Officer of CRPF, Bhavesh Chowdry, told Excelsior that 11 CRPF men were injured when militants attacked their vehicle in Sempora area of Pampore out of which two later succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. He said that three more CRPF men including Assistant Commandant were injured when their party tried to enter the EDI complex where militants took refuge in a building.
Earlier in the day, two CRPF personnel identified as Head Constable Bhula Singh of 144 Battalion and Constable R K Raina were killed and nine others suffered injuries after a group of militants attacked their vehicle in Sempora area of Pampore in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Soon after the attack, the militants rushed towards nearby EDI building and took refuge in it amid heavy exchange of gunfire with CRPF’s Road Opening Party (ROP).
A CRPF party headed by Assistant Commandant tried to enter the building in which militants were hiding but militants fired at them indiscriminately injuring the Assistant Commandant and two jawans.
A gardener Abdul Gani Mir, 48, son of Mohammad Sultan, a resident of Gundipora village of Pulwama was injured during the gunbattle and he was later shifted to SMHS hospital Srinagar for treatment. However, he succumbed to injures.
The IGP Gillani said that 3 militants are inside the EDI building and security forces are carrying out operations against them.
Soon after the attack, large contingents of Army and SOG rushed to the EDI and cordoned off entire area. Over 100 employees and trainees were trapped inside the EDI complex in three buildings. Some of them rushed away as the gun battle started and others were later evacuated by the Police.
The intermittent firing between the security forces and holed up militants is going on. More troops have been rushed to the area and entire area around the EDI has been cordoned off to prevent militants from fleeing the EDI complex.
As the militants entered the EDI building, there were over 100 employees and trainees in three multi-storied buildings who had narrow escape. Some of them came out on their own and fled while some were rescued after over an hour.
Security forces first evacuated these employees and trainees before launching operation. One of the employee said that they were working inside when they heard gun fire and militants entering the EDI building. He said that they were rescued by the Police as gun battle was on.
A portion of National Highway in Pampore area was closed for traffic and there were massive traffic jams.
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