Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 3: Two soldiers were killed and four others injured as militants attacked an Army convoy on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway in South Kashmir today.
The attack came at a time when Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Bipin Rawat and top Commanders of Army are in Srinagar to discuss the Army’s preparedness.
Militants ambushed an Army vehicle, part of a Srinagar-bound convoy, today at around 11:30 am near Toll Post Lower Munda on Srinagar-Jammu Highway. The firing by militants left six soldiers injured who were immediately referred to hospital for treatment.
Two critically wounded soldiers, who were shifted to Army Hospital BB Cantonment succumbed to their injuries. They have been identified as Manivang and Deepak Methi. The injured have been identified as Subedar Shrinavas Murli, Naib Subedar Shiv Kumar, Vaid Prakash and Sepoy Subash Chand.
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The troops deployed for the QRT retaliated but militants managed to escape. Soon after the attack, Army, police and CRPF cordoned off entire area and launched searches to track down the militants. The traffic movement on highway was also affected due to the attack. However, it was restored later but huge traffic jams were later witnessed on the highway.
Sources said that the army and other security agencies had inputs that a Lashkar-e-Toiba group based in Kulgam was planning an attack on security forces convoy on the National Highway.
However, Hizbul Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the attack on the convoy. The spokesman of the outfit claimed that all the militants who carried out the attack reached to their hideout safely. He warned more such attacks.
Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti has paid rich tributes to the two army men. She extended her heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of slain soldiers. She also conveyed her sympathies to the soldiers who were injured in the incident.
Mehbooba said that it was unfortunate that an unending cycle of violence has got unleashed which only spreads miseries and desperation.
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