SRINAGAR: The security forces on Monday foiled what could have been a second major terrorist act on their encampments in Jammu and Kashmir in three days by forcing the assailants to flee.
However, one CRPF jawan was killed and a J&K policeman was injured in a gunfight raging in the neighbourhood of the CRPF’s 23rd Battalion camp, the intended target, in Srinagar’s Karan Nagar area. Officials said the assailants have been holed up inside an under-construction building in the area. Intermittent firing continued till reports last came in. Local residents have been evacuated from the area,
The officials said the gunmen tried to storm the CRPF camp shortly before dawn, exactly the way a group of militants believed to be members of Jaish-e-Mohammed did at an Army station at Sanjwan in Jammu over the weekend.
But this time the militant attempt was foiled by an alert sentry who, officials said, on noticing suspicious persons at around 4.30 am carrying backpacks and weapons, challenged them and opened fire as well.
LeT claims responsibility
“The militants fled into a nearby under construction building. They were encircled by reinforcements and a gunfight is underway,” said a police official.
CRPF’s spokesperson Rajesh Yadav said constable Mujahid Khan of CRPF’s 49 Battalion was critically injured in the clash and later succumbed in hospital. Lashkar-e-Tayyba (LeT) claimed the responsibility of the incident and said “Our mujahedin have taken control of Indian forces’ stronghold.” Its chief Mehmood Shah also issued a statement to a local news agency.
Amid the clash, the cellular companies snapped high-speed mobile Internet services in Srinagar.
The Army officials had on Sunday claimed that four militants were also killed in retaliatory action but the officials have now said that only three militants, five soldiers and a civilian died during the armed standoff. Army officials said the militants were wearing combat fatigues.
