3 CRPF men, 2 civilians injured in grenade attack

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Nov 20: Three paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and two civilians were injured when militants hurled a grenade at a CRPF party in Pampore on the outskirts of Srinagar today.
Militants hurled a grenade at a CRPF party near Jammu and Kashmir Bank in main town at around 10 am. Three CRPF men and two civilians were injured in the blast, he said. The injured were shifted to a hospital for treatment.
Senior police and CRPF officers reached the spot to assess the situation. The area was cordoned off and searches were conducted, however, no one was arrested.
A CRPF spokesman said here that in the morning around 0950 hours, a grenade was lobbed by militants targeting troops of 110 Bn CRPF who were deployed for their regular duty on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway near J&K Bank at Kadlabal-Drangbal area of South Kashmir’s Pampore Town.
“Severe splinter injuries were inflicted to three CRPF constables of 110 Bn CRPF namely Mohan Kumar, Rajesh Roshan and Masrucar P.L. Besides, two civilians Mehraj-ud-Din Sheikh of Sangam and Lateef Ahmed Sheikh of Yarigam also suffered severe injuries caused by splinters. All were timely rushed to SKIMS Hospital, Soura by 110 Bn CRPF”, the spokesman said.
“However, the injured CRPF personnel retaliated to militants in due time, but despite being injured by splinters, troops of 110 Bn CRPF exercised high restraint and patience and forestalled further retaliation on the militant since they were escaping towards civilian residential lanes where any attempt of firing by CRPF could have been detrimental.
In order to avoid such collateral damage, CRPF troops did not continue to retaliate as such action could have resulted into civilian casualties. It is also learnt that injured troops had identified escaping militants who targeted them in grenade attack”, the spokesman said.
The spokesman said: “being responsible to the innocent people of Kashmir, CRPF has always been vigilant in acting sensibly where circumstances are challenging. CRPF always ensure to avoid such firing incidents where loss of innocent lives is possible.”

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