Militants launched two attacks in the Kashmir Valley in the past 24 hours and left three security personnel dead and seven others injured.
In a major strike, militants laid an ambush near Khawaja Bagh of Baramulla district around 2.30 a.m. on Wednesday and opened fire at an Army convoy. “Two army men and one cop were killed in the attack”, said a police spokesman. Of late, Army convoys avoid movement during the day due to the street protests.
A combing operation was launched in the area. However, till late in the evening no militant was tracked or arrested. Suspected militants also lobbed a grenade in Pulwama district’s Kakapora area on Tuesday night.
A police spokesman said a local police station was the target of the militants.
“Five policemen were injured in the attack,” the police said.
At a meeting chaired by National Conference working president Omar Abdullah, Opposition parties asked the Centre to start a dialogue, including with Pakistan, to end the ongoing civilian unrest that has left 65 people dead and more than 6,000 injured.
Former Chief Minister Mr. Abdullah, who is planning to meet President Pranab Mukherjee and hand over a memorandum in the coming days, rejected the Centre’s narrative that Pakistan was behind the 40-day street protest, sparked by the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani. “Pakistan is not behind the present situation. It may be fishing in troubled waters but the problem lies within. The Centre need to recognise the anger as well as the problem,” said Mr. Abduallah.
