Militants strike twice in Kashmir, 3 dead

Two militants opened fire on a CRPF patrol party in the Kokar Bazar area of Lal Chowk here on Tuesday, killing a civilian and injuring four others, including two jawans.

Two militants opened fire on a CRPF patrol party in the Kokar Bazar area of Lal Chowk here on Tuesday, killing a civilian and injuring four others, including two jawans.

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The militants also attacked a police team at a crowded bus stand in Sopore, about 55 km from here, in the evening, killing two persons, including a policeman, and injuring four others.

The attacks came just two days after a grenade was hurled on a Central Reserve Police Force vehicle in Srinagar's Zainakadal area. One soldier was killed and four injured in that attack.

At 11.24 am on Tuesday, two men in their early twenties opened fire on a Central Reserve Police Force team patrolling the alleys in Lal Chowk and injured Head Constable Omkar Ram and Constable Basant Maiti.

Constable Arun Naik, who was part of the CRPF team, said the two men targeted the three CRPF men walking ahead of him.

“One of the militants had a pistol and the other was carrying an AK 47 assault rifle,” Naik said. He added, “As they fired, two jawans fell down while one managed to escape. The two militants were in western outfits and were clean shaven.”

“One jawan received injuries under his neck, while the other was hit on the back,” said a CRPF spokesman. Both the soldiers were shifted to Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital. Constable Maiti is reportedly in a critical condition.

The civilian, Khursheed Ahmad (25), a resident of Budgam district who was hit in the abdomen, died in the hospital. Later, protests erupted in Budgam, as people alleged that the CRPF personnel had killed Ahmad.

There was retaliatory fire from the jawans, but the militants took advantage of the confusion and disappeared into the maze of alleyways.

Riyaz Ahmad who owns a wool shop in the lane, said, “I did not see the militants, but I saw CRPF men stepping back and firing simultaneously. They were moving towards their bunker few meters away.”

The CRPF spokesman said the weapons used by the militants could be identified only after a forensic test.

But he did not rule out the possibility of heavy weapons being used in the attack.