Fayaz Bukhari
—Excelsior/Younis Khaliq
SRINAGAR, June 25: In a major militant strike in last three years, eight paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) men were killed and 20 others injured when militants attacked their convoy at Frestbal near Pampore in the outskirts of Srinagar on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway this evening.
CRPF spokesman, Bhavesh Kumar Choudhary said here that two militants were killed in the exchange of fire at Pampore while 8 CRPF personnel were also killed and around 20 CRPF men injured in the attack. The spokesman said that injured have been shifted to Army’s Base hospital in Srinagar and some of them are critical.
The attack took place at around 4:50 pm when militants ambushed CRPF convoy of 161 Battalion at Frestbal, Nambalbal area of Pampore on the National Highway. The militants fired indiscriminately at the CRPF bus and also deflated its tyres.
The Road Opening Party (ROP) of the CRPF engaged the militants in a brief encounter and killed two of them. Three CRPF men were killed on the spot and five others succumbed to their injuries in the hospital.
The injured were shifted to Army’s 92 Base Hospital of Army at Badami Bagh, where three more succumbed and three are believed to be critical. Sources said that the attackers boarding a car were accompanied by two more militants who, however, managed to escape.
Soon after the attack, police, CRPF and Army rushed to the spot and cordoned off the entire area and also launched searches against the militants. The security men also launched searches in nearby Pantha Chowk and Lasjan areas but no one was arrested.
This is the deadliest attack since 2013 when that year on June 24, militants ambushed an Army convoy at Hyderpora Bypass in Srinagar, killing eight Army soldiers.
Sources said the militants were fidayeen and had recently infiltrated into Kashmir. The search operation was underway when reports last came in. Two of their associates are believed to have fled towards Srinagar in an Alto car. Police, CRPF and Army have established nakas to track them.
Lashkar-e-Toiba spokesman Dr Abdullah Ghaznavi in a statement claimed responsibility for the attack. He said two fidayeen attacked the CRPF convoy at Frestbal and killed 13 CRPF men and injured more than 20.
In the meantime, Army this evening killed two militants in an encounter near Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
The soldiers of 17 JAK RIF intercepted a group of militants in Lachipora forest area of Uri this afternoon. As they were challenged by the troops, the militants opened fire on them leading to a gun battle. Two militants were killed in the encounter so far. The operation in the area is still going on.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Rajnath Singh today expressed deep anguish over the killing of eight CRPF personnel in an ambush at Pampore in Jammu and Kashmir.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi has also condemned the killing of eight CRPF men by militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pampore as a “dastardly” act.
She said the sacrifice of the CRPF men is “supreme and unforgettable.”
“We stand with their families in this hour of grief and distress,” she said.
Gandhi also expressed deep concern over the news of those jawans who were injured in the anbush as she wished them fast recovery, strength and healing.
“My heart goes out to the families of the CRPF men who lost their lives in Pampore. I also pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he said in a tweet.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and general secretary AICC, Ghulam Nabi Azad has strongly condemned the attack on CRPF personnel at Pampore.
“It is painful to learn about the death of our soldiers who are fighting a proxy war and had succeeded in creating an atmosphere in the State, as a result of which the tourists from across the world are visiting Kashmir, thereby contributing to the economy of the State,” he said in a statement.
“This terrorist attack at this juncture on our brave security forces should be condemned by one and all,” Azad said.
Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, today strongly condemned the attack on CRPF. “The only purpose of such blood-spattered acts of violence is to add to the tragedies and miseries of the people and subvert the Government’s efforts aimed at bringing permanent peace and prosperity to Jammu and Kashmir,” she said in a statement.
Mehbooba said the elements inimical to interests of Jammu and Kashmir have always tried to derail the peace efforts and the latest militant strike at Pampore was again aimed at subverting the peace and development initiatives launched by the Government.
Chief Minister while expressing solidarity with the bereaved families of the security forces personnel prayed for early recovery of the injured including civilians. “I would like to express my sincere condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in today’s dastardly militant attack,” she said and added that violence has not served any purpose in the past, nor is it going to do anything in future, except shedding precious human blood.
Governor N N Vohra expressed grief on the killing of CRPF personnel in the Pampore attack. He conveyed his sympathy to the families of those killed and wished early recovery to the injured personnel.
Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh has condemned the militant attack. Describing the attack as the handiwork of elements trying to disturb the peaceful environs of the State, Singh said: “We should all collectively work to defeat these forces who are trying to perpetuate the cult of violence and destruction.” He also extended sympathies to the families of the jawans who lost their lives in the gruesome attack.
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