Srinagar: one CRPF jawan killed in militant attack

One Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was killed and another injured when militants fired on a patrol on the outskirts of the city on Wednesday afternoon.

One Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was killed and another injured when militants fired on a patrol on the outskirts of the city on Wednesday afternoon.

Indian-army-soldiers-stand-guard-near-the-site-of-a-shootout-on-the-outskirts-of-Srinagar-AP-Photo

At around 4pm, a road opening party of the CRPF's 29th Battalion came under fire from a close range, while it was clearing a stretch of road close to Puhroo Chowk near Nowgam on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway.

"One CRPF jawan was killed and another injured in the attack," Kashmir inspector general of police Abdul Ghani Mir told Hindustan Times.

Mir said preliminary reports suggested that only one militant was involved in the firing. "We are ascertaining the nature of the weapon used in the attack," said Mir.

CRPF spokesman Kishore Prasad also confirmed the death of a jawan. "Another injured has been shifted to a nearby hospital. We have launched a manhunt to nab the attackers," said Prasad. The injured has been identified as constable Surender Singh.

Reinforcements have been dispatched to the area. Preliminary reports suggest that the attackers fled from the spot immediately after the firing.

Wednesday's attack was the third major attack on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway this year. Eight soldiers were killed and one Border Security Force jawan injured in these attacks.