Policemen in action after a militant strike left a cop and a civilian injured in Khanyar area on Tuesday. KO Photo, Abid Bhat
Srinagar: A policeman and a civilian were injured on Tuesday in a militant attack in Khanyar area of the city; just a day after police released the list of ten wanted militants active in Jammu and Kashmir.
Around 6:15 pm, unidentified militants appeared in the Shiraz Chowk and opened indiscriminate fire upon two vehicles of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and police stationed at the busy crossing, eyewitnesses told Kashmir Observer.
Reporters said that the bullet marks were visible on the shop fronts and walls around the spot where the joint team of police and CRPF were standing. A scooter parked along the road was also hit by a bullet.
In the surprise militant attack, the first such in the city in a long time, a policeman and a civilian were injured. They have been identified as Constable Abdul Waheed, posted at Police Station Khanyar, and Ishtiyaq Ahmad Bazaz of Nowshehra.
“Two vehicles carrying CRPF men and police were stationed in the Chowk. All of sudden gunshots rattled the area. I heard some 15-20 rounds of fire before taking cover inside my shop,” a shopkeeper, who wished not to be named, said.
The sudden attack, as per the witnesses, led to the diversion of traffic through Miskeen Bagh and Kaw Mohalla.
They said that the militant attack also prompted a security alert at the Shiraz Cinema camp, housing the paramilitary CRPF. Witnesses said that CRPF deployed additional men atop the erstwhile cinema to keep a check on suspected persons.
Soon after the militant attack, additional reinforcements of police and CRPF reached the area. The joint team also searched the lane through which militants are believed to have carried out the attack. Passersby, mostly young boys, were also frisked by the joint team.
Medical Superintendent SMHS, Dr Kanwaljeet Singh told Kashmir Observer that the policeman had received a single gunshot injury in his left side of the chest.
“He has been operated upon. His condition is stable,” Singh added.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued here this evening, a police spokesperson said that preliminary investigation has revealed that militants had fired upon the party of Police Station Khanyar near Shiraz Chowk area of Srinagar.
In this incident, he said, one policeman and a civilian sustained bullet injuries and were immediately shifted to hospital for the treatment. The condition of both the injured is stated to be stable.
“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 circumstances which lead to this terror crime. Area has been cordoned off and search in the area is going on,” the police spokesperson said.
Pertinently, today’s attack comes a day after police released a list of ten wanted militants, including seven old ones and three new recruits.
Pakistani Militant Killed In Bandipora
Meanwhile a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant hailing from Pakistan was killed in an encounter with govt forces in Bandipora district of north Kashmir on Tuesday, police said.
Govt forces launched a cordon and search operation in Chandaji area of Bandipora in north Kashmir after inputs were received about the presence of militants there, a police official said.
He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the militants opened fire on the forces, who retaliated.
He identified the slain as Babar Ali who had managed to escape from the Shokbaba encounter site on July 24.
Ali was a resident of Ugada district of Punjab in Pakistan and his body was retrieved from the site of the encounter.
Three militants of the LeT, including Sharik Altaf, were killed in the Shokbaba encounter.
However, the official said, Ali had managed to escape from the site and was being continuously tracked thereafter.
After pinpointing his presence in the Chandaji forest area on Tuesday, an operation was launched by the security forces, the official said.
Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition, including an AK-rifle, two AK-Magazines, 40 AK-rounds, a pouch, a wireless set and a medicine bag were recovered from the site of the encounter, the official said.
He said Inspector General of Police of Kashmir Vijay Kumar has congratulated the joint team of police and security forces for successfully tracking down the terrorist and conducting operation in a professional manner without any collateral damage . (With inputs from PTI)
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
