Fayaz Bukhari
-Excelsior/Sajad Dar
SRINAGAR, June 3: Three Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were killed and seven others critically injured when militants ambushed their convoy near Bijbehara on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway in the South Kashmir district of Anantnag this evening.
Militants targeted a bus of the BSF convoy comprising 23 vehicles at around 4:30 p.m in Bijbehara town. The convoy was coming from Jammu to Srinagar and was ferrying jawans who were returning to join their duties after their leave.
Militants fired indiscriminately at the BSF bus from Ganai Mohalla in Bijbehara injuring 10 BSF men. Three of them later succumbed to their injuries. They have been identified as Head Constable Girish Kumar Shukla, Constable Mahinder Ram and Havaldar Dinesh.
The injured include Head Constable Bishember Singh, Inspector Omwar Singh, Sheir Singh son of Deulat Singh, Natish Singh son of Waso Singh, Natish Kumar, Mahinder Dowjee, Skinder Pall son of Madan Lal, Bhaghat Singh and Dhanu Kumar. All the dead and injured belong to 64 battalion of BSF.
Sources said that one of the militants appeared in front of the BSF bus and fired indiscriminately forcing the driver to apply brake. The other militants fired at the bus on either-side. The militants fled away after carrying out the attack.
Senior security forces’ officials including Director General of the BSF, K K Sharma, rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation.
Police, Army 1st-RR and 90-Battalion CRPF have launched a massive manhunt against the militants responsible for the attack. Security forces cordoned off Goriwan, Baba Mohalla, Hospital Road, SICOP area in Bijbehara town and Khannabal, Old KP Road, Wanghama areas of Anantnag and conducted searches but no one was arrested.
Reports said that security forces had inputs that the militants may carry out strike on security forces on the National Highway between Anantang and Pampore.
Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit claimed the responsibility of the attacks on BSF Convoy. Hizb operational spokesperson Burhanuddin told a local news agency that several BSF men were killed in the attack carried out by a special squad of the outfit. The outfit has warned more attacks on security forces.
This is second major strike in recent days in Kashmir valley. On May 23, militants killed three cops in two separate strikes in Srinagar.
Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh, has condemned the attack. He described it as an inhuman and barbaric act, saying that it is handiwork of the elements trying to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in the State. He said that these kinds of acts are against the principles of any religion and need to be condemned by every section of the society.
Director General of Police, K Rajendra described the attack as unfortunate. “Its an unfortunate incident. The BSF convoy was attacked on the National Highway by terrorists who fired at it from the by-lanes near Bijbehara,” he said.
Meanwhile, security forces today busted a militant hideout in Zadoora area of Pulwama district, taking the number of hideouts busted after the arrest of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani’s aide to 4.
Sources said that on the tip off provided by apprehended HM militant Tariq Pandit, 55 RR and SOG Pulwama busted a hideout in Zadoora area of Pulwama district.
The troops recovered 58 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, 2 AK-47 magazines and one Chinese grenade.
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