Two policemen were killed and 12 others were injured in a militant attack on a police bus at Zewan area near Srinagar on Monday afternoon.
Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants were killed in a separate operation in Srinagar's Rangreth area earlier in the day.
“The terrorists fired upon a police bus when they were travelling back to the Zewan camp from Srinagar. It seems a new (terrorist) group is active because we had earlier carried out successful operation in the area. Even during the day, the police launched an operation and killed two terrorists in Srinagar,” Director General of Police Dilbag Singh said.
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Preliminary investigation has revealed that at least three terrorists fired indiscriminately upon the police vehicle carrying personnel of 9th Battalion around 6 p.m.
“Taking advantage of darkness, the terrorists managed to escape from the spot. In the retaliatory firing, one of the terrorists got injured. The group involved in this gruesome terrorist attack will be soon brought to justice,” a police spokesman.
The deceased policemen were identified as ASI Ghulam Hassan and Senior Constable Safique Ali.
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The police said the attack was carried by the Kashmir Tigers, an offshoot of Jaish-e-Muhammad.
Of the 14 injured policemen, two policemen, including an assistant sub-inspector and a constable, succumbed to injuries. The attack site was immediately cordoned off and nearby areas searched to nab the attackers.
The attack comes just two days after two policemen were killed in Bandipora.
Kashmir has witnessed stepped up attacks on policemen this year. Most of these attacks were carried out in and around Srinagar.
According to the Prime Minister's Office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought details on the terror attack in J&K. He has also expressed condolences to the families of those security personnel who have been martyred in the attack, a spokesman said.
J&K parties condemn
J&K Lieutenant Governor and regional parties have condemned the militant attack on the policemen in Srinagar.
“Strongly condemn the cowardly attack on J&K police bus in Srinagar. My homage to our brave martyred police personnel. We are committed to ensure that perpetrators are punished. Our police and security forces are determined to neutralize the evil forces of terrorism,” L-G Manoj Sinha said.
BJP J&K spokesman Altaf Thakur, while strongly condemning the attack, said, “The act reflects frustration on part of militants as they choose darkness to target police bus.”
Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti termed the incident “terribly sad”. “The Government of India's false narrative of normalcy in Kashmir stands exposed yet there has been no course correction.”
National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah said, “Terrible news of a terror attack on a police bus on the outskirts of Srinagar. I unequivocally condemn this attack while at the same time send my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and prayers for the injured.”
LeT ultras killed
Earlier in the day, the Srinagar police killed two LeT militants, including a foreigner, in a brief “chance encounter” at Rangreth area of Srinagar.
“Based on a specific input regarding movement of terrorists in general area of Rangreth, surprise checking points were established tactically by the Srinagar Police in the area. A small team of the Srinagar police spotted two suspected persons, who fired indiscriminately upon them. In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists were neutralized on spot,” the police said.
The police identified the slain militants as Aadil Ahmad Wani from Shopian's Daramdoora area, “a Pakistan-trained 'A' category terrorist” and an unidentified foreign terrorist. The police said Wani was behind many attacks on the police in north Kashmir's Sopore.
“Two A-K rifles and other incriminating materials were recovered from the site of encounter,” the police said.
Clashes broke out between the security forces and local youths in Rangreth after the operation was over.
In a separate incident, official sources said a special police officer (SPO) and his associate, who were guarding a BJP leader, have gone missing along with two service weapons in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. The police have been tight lipped about the incident and has not disclosed any details so far.
Infiltrator killed
A woman infiltrator was shot dead near the International Border (IB) in Jammu's R.S. Pura area, the Border Security Forces (BSF) said on Monday.
“The BSF troops noticed suspicious movement in R.S. Pura area and warned the intruder many times not to cross the IB but the intruder kept running towards border fencing aggressively. Alert BSF troops fired and neutralized the intruder near fencing inside the IB and thwarted the infiltration attempt,” the spokesman said.
The incident, according to the BSF, took place on Sunday night.