Militants strike again in Srinagar
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, June 7: Militants tonight fired at a former militant in Sadderbal area of Srinagar injuring two persons while security forces busted a militant hideout in the Central Kashmir district of Budgam and recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition.
Police said that militants fired indiscriminately on Ghulam Hassan Mir, a shopkeeper, at Sadderbal near Hazratbal in Srinagar at around 9 p.m.
Mir and one of his customers, Abdul Rashid, were injured in the firing. Both of them were rushed to SKIMS hospital for treatment.
Mir, who hailed from Lurgam Tral in South Kashmir was running his shop in Sadderbal, Srinagar for last 8 years. He was a former militant who was released from the jail and had shun the militancy. He has received a bullet in his neck and doctors attending him said his condition is critical.
Another person, Rashid who was also injured in the shoot out, has received a bullet in his leg and his condition is said to be out of danger. Both of them are being operated upon.
Police said that the pheran (Kashmiri loose gown) clad militants fled from the scene after carrying out the attack. No militant outfit has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.
The militant attack created panic in the area and shopkeepers pulled down their shutters and ran away for the safety as majority of the shops are open in the area till 10 p.m. Senior police officers rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation.
Police cordoned off the area and some people were questioned about the militant attack. However, no one was detained.
Tral area in South Kashmir where from Mir hailed is hot bed of militancy and the police suspected that the militants might have traveled all the way from Tral to target Mir.
The attack comes a week after militants fired at security forces in the heart of Srinagar city with automatic weapons injuring 7 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.
The attack took place early in the morning on May 30 when two motor cycle born militants opened fire indiscriminately at a CRPF vehicle carrying jawans of the 82nd Battalion in Khanyar area of the old city. The vehicle was leaving their headquarters at Shiraz Cinema for law and order duty with the Rainawari police. Islamic Front (IF) had owned responsibility for that attack.
Militants last night also fired upon the house of the Lumberdar of Qaimoh-Kulgam, Mohammad Sidiq Bhat, 45, son of Wali Mohammad resident of Gobbal in South Kashmir district of Kulgam. However, there was no loss of life or property in the incident. Police have registered a case and investigations have been taken up.
Meanwhile police in Central Kashmir district of Budgam busted a hideout in Beerwah area and recovered arms and ammunition.
A police spokesman said that Budgam Police along with 2 RR launched a search operation in village Hanji Lawaypora at Beerwah in Budgam district. He said during search operation a hideout was busted.
The spokesman said two RPG grenades, four Chinese grenades, one Chinese pistol, one pistol magazine and three rounds of pistol ammunition were recovered.
Police have registered a case (FIR No. 58/2012 under section 7/25 Arms Act) at Police Station Beerwah.
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