Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, July 24 : A paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) man was killed and another injured in a militant attack near Fire and Emergency Services Headquarters in Batamaloo area of Srinagar this afternoon.
Militants opened fire on the CRPF party of 23rd battalion this afternoon at Batmaloo area of Srinagar who were performing duty on the main road. Two CRPF men were injured in the attack and were taken to the nearby police hospital where one among the seriously injured, Shankar Lal, was declared as brought dead.
A senior police officer said that the militants opened fire upon CRPF men in Batamaloo, resulting into the killing of a CRPF man and injury to another. A massive manhunt was launched against the militants responsible for the attack.
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Police initially suspected that the militants entered a multi-storey building adjacent to the Fire and Emergency Services Headquarters but the searches of the building was conducted and no militant was found there.
Sources said that two militants came on a motor cycle and fired at the CRPF men killing one of them and injuring another. They managed to flee from the area after carrying out the attack and leaving the two security men in a pool of blood.
Hizbul Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the attack on the CRPF in Batamaloo.
A police spokesman said: “terrorists this afternoon fired at the security forces personnel at Batamaloo near Fire & Emergency Services. Taking advantage of the crowd in the area, the assailants managed to flee.”
“In the process, two security forces personnel got injured in the firing incident who were subsequently shifted to the nearby hospital for medical attention where one security force jawan Constable Shankar Lal of 23 Bn CRPF succumbed to his injuries. The other jawan has now been discharged from the hospital”, the spokesman said.
Police have registered a case and investigation in the instant matter has been initiated. “Initial investigation into the case has led to some tangible leads on which police is working”, the spokesman added.
Security in Srinagar city was beefed up after the attack. Police and CRPF personnel were seen carrying out frisking of vehicles, particularly LMVs. They were also checking the documents of motor bikes.
The vehicles entering the Srinagar city from different entry points were also being thoroughly checked. Additional deployment of security forces and police was made at several places. “We have laid the nakas across the City. We are monitoring the situation,” a senior police officer said. However, no one was reported to have been arrested during the searches.
The security forces have been asked to remain vigilant while performing their duties. Additional security forces will be deployed in the sensitive areas to counter such attacks.
Militants hurled grenade followed with firing on 42 RR camp at Lurgam, Tral in district Pulwama this evening. The security guards retaliated. However, there was no loss of life or injury and militants fled under the cover of darkness.
Militants also hurled a grenade on CRPF camp at Akoora Mattan in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district this evening. However, there was no loss of life or injury and militants fled under the cover of darkness.
And in the meantime, police in Kupwara received information that two youth Iqbal Banday, 18, son of Aejaz Banday of Izgund Khumreyal, Drugmula and Gowhar Ahmad Wani, 17, son of Sanaullah Wani of Andrhama Drugmulla, are missing since yesterday.
Police tracked down their movement and they were brought back from Tral, Pulwama. One of them had uploaded his photo on social media taken at the grave of Burhan Wani. Police said that the duo had the intention to join militancy. After counseling, police handed over both the youth to their parents.
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