2 soldiers martyred in Srinagar attack

Security forces at the site of militant attack in Srinagar on Thursday.-Excelsior/Shakeel
Security forces at the site of militant attack in Srinagar on Thursday.-Excelsior/Shakeel

Massive searches for militants

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 26: Two soldiers were martyred in a militants attack at Army’s Road opening Party (RoP) near Sharifabad Army base in HMT area on the outskirts of Srinagar today. A massive search operation has been launched in the area against the militants responsible for the attack.

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Srinagar based Defence spokesman, Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that militants fired indiscriminately at the Army’s Quick Reaction Team (QRT) in general area of Aban Shah Chowk, HMT, Srinagar this afternoon. “Being a crowded area, troops exercised restraint to avoid any civilian casualties and collateral damage,” he said.
Colonel Kalia said that two soldiers were critically injured and were evacuated to the nearest medical facility. “However, they succumbed to injuries. Area has been cordoned and search operation launched,” he said.
Soon after the attack, top police and Army officials rushed to the spot to assess the situation. The attack took place hardly 500 meters from Sharifabad based Kilo Force Headquarters of Army. The fleeing militants also decamped with one rifle from one of the deceased soldier.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar said that three militants carried out the attack on Army men at HMT. “Initial reports said that three militants were travelling in a Maruti car and two of them were carrying weapons, who fired indiscriminately at the Army men leaving two of them seriously wounded, who later succumbed,” he said.
The IGP Kashmir said that Lashkar-e-Toiba militants carried out the attack and security forces are chasing the Maruti car which was used for the attack. “There seems to be the involvement of one or two foreign militants. We will ascertain the outfit that carried out the attack,” he added.
The martyr soldiers have been identified as Sepoy Ratan of 163 Battalion Territorial Army and Sepoy Deshmukh of 101 Battalion Territorial Army.
Police have registered a case in this regard under relevant Sections of law. “Investigation is in progress and officers continue to work to establish the full circumstances of this terror crime,” police said.
The whole area was cordoned off and no one was allowed to travel on Parimpora-Soibugh and Sharifabad-HMT road.
The nearby wetland of Hokersar was also cordoned off and the security forces were looking for the militants who carried out the attack. The cordon and searches were going on till late night.