SRINAGAR: A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was killed and another injured in a militant attack in Batamaloo area in the heart of Srinagar on Tuesday. Militants fired from close range towards CRPF jawans near the Fire and Emergency Service headquarters at Batamaloo, close to the Civil Secretariat, at around 4 pm, Ravideep Singh Sahi, Inspector General (IG) CRPF, told The New Indian Express.
Sahi said the militants apparently fired from AK-47 rifles towards the CRPF patrol party, injuring two CRPF men. The injured CRPF jawans were evacuated to a nearby hospital, where one of the critically injured men succumbed to his injuries. The deceased jawan was identified as constable Shaker Lal of 23 Bn, CRPF. He was posted at Karan N Srinagar. After the shoot-out, the militants managed to escape from the area.
The firing caused panic in the area, with people running helter-skelter. Immediately after the attack, police and paramilitary personnel laid a siege around the area and conducted searches. However, no arrests were reported during the half-an-hour-long operation. Sahi said they suspect that two militants were involved in the attack. He said a massive manhunt had been launched to track down the militants. Asked whether militants were present in Srinagar, Sahi said such sporadic incidents happened but things were under control.
After the attack, security in Srinagar was beefed up and additional security personnel were deployed at sensitive areas to keep a close watch on the movement of people. Militant group Hizbul Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the attack. Hizb operations spokesman Burhan-ud-din, in a tele-statement to local newspapers, claimed responsibility for the attack. He said that two CRPF men were killed and many others injured in the attack.
Two militants involved in attack
Police suspect that two militants were involved in the attack. A massive manhunt has been launched to track down the militants. Security in Srinagar has been beefed up and additional security personnel were deployed at sensitive areas.