Five CRPF jawans and two local Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) militants were killed in a pre-dawn fidayeen (suicide) attack on the central force’s training-cum-induction centre in Pulwama’s Lethpora area on Sunday.
One soldier was killed in a ceasefire violation on the Line of Control (LoC) in the Pir Panchal Valley.
Indiscriminate fire
The militant squad of at least three was carrying under-barrel grenade launchers and a cache of ammunition, as they arrived at the gates of the 185 battalion headquarters in Lethpora around 2 a.m.
“The militants opened indiscriminate fire and launched grenades in their attempt to enter the premises,” said CRPF spokesman Rajesh Yadav. Three CRPF jawans were injured in the first round of fire and grenade explosions of the militants. “All the three injured jawans later died at the Army hospital,” said a police official.
Five more CRPF jawans were injured in the day-long gunfight. “Two more CRPF jawans succumbed to their injuries, sustained while flushing the militants out,” said the official. The militants managed to enter the Group Training Centre, housing multi-storey buildings for the residential quarters, commando training and induction units.
Director General of Police (DGP), J&K, S.P. Vaid said there had been intelligence alerts about the attack. According to the police, two local JeM militants, identified as Mazoor Ahmad Baba from Drubgam and Fardeen Ahmad Khanday from Tral, were killed in the operations.
“Security forces will remain on standby at the encounter site. We have called off the operation for the night but one more militant is suspected to be hiding,” said the police official.
Referring to JeM militants recently killed in the Valley, including commander Noor Muhammad Tantray, the outfit’s spokesman said they will not be deterred but continue the attacks.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah condemned the attack.
Sepoy Jagsir Singh was killed when Pakistan violated the ceasefire in Rajouri in the Pir Panchal Valley on Sunday.
A police official said Pakistan resorted to firing and shelling on the forward posts in Nowshehra sector, Rajouri district, according to reports reaching Srinagar.
