KO Photo: Abid Bhat
Srinagar: Suspected militants shot at and injured a youth in an audacious attack in the high security zone Sonwar here on Wednesday setting off alarms bells ringing in the security establishment.
22-year-old Akash Mehra of Janipora Jammu was critically injured when suspected militants fired upon him near a dhaba in the high security zone Sonwar area of this capital city on Wednesday evening, officials said. The youth, who sustained bullet injury in chest in the audacious attack, was removed to SMHS hospital here for treatment.
Akash, reports said, is son of Ramesh Kumar Mehra who has been running Krishna Dhaba, a famous vegetarian eatery in the area for decades.
Medical Superintendent, SMHS hospital, Dr Nazir Choudhary told Kashmir Observer that the youth has received a bullet injury on the right side of his chest and he has been shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU)
“As of now, his condition remains critical,” he added.
Pertinently, the attack came at a time when a group of foreign envoys toured parts of Srinagar and Budgam districts on their first day of two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to take a first-hand account of the situation in newly-carved union territory.
The attack also took place barely a kilometre from the residences of senior mainstream party leaders and protected persons, including former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah. Army’s Badami Bagh cantonment is also in the vicinity of Sonwar where the attack was carried out.
In a statement issued here this evening, a police spokesperson said that the militants carried out the attack in Sonwar area in which a civilian was injured. He said that senior police officers have reached the spot as the area has been cordoned off and search operations launched.
“Police has registered a case in this regard under relevant sections of law. Investigation is in progress and officers continue to work to establish the full circumstances of this crime,” he added.
Meanwhile, former chief minister and National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah expressed concern over the attack.
“Very sorry to hear about the attack on the Krishna Dhaba in Srinagar, these attacks are unacceptable. I hope the injured person who is himself associated with the dhaba & is undergoing treatment in a city hospital makes a complete & speedy recovery,” Abdullah posted on his Twitter handle.
Echoing similar views, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti also took to Twitter to express her sadness over the incident and said that ‘violence is never the answer’
“Deeply saddened by the attack on Krishna Dhaba at Sonwar in Srinagar. Extend my sympathies to the injured & his family. Violence is never the answer,” she tweeted.
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