Three elite PARA troopers including two captains were killed as the gunfight between militants, hiding inside Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) building, and government forces continued on second day on Sunday.The encounter followed a deadly ambush on a paramilitary CRPF vehicle along Srinagar-Jammu National Highway near Sempora at Pampore in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on late Saturdayafternoon. With the fresh killing, the death toll has increased to six and includes two CRPF men and a civilian killed on Saturday.As already reported by news agency GNS, a group of heavily armed militants ambushed a bus of CRPF at Sempora along Highway at around 4:20 PM, leaving 11 personnel injured on Saturday. The injured CRPF personnel were immediately rushed to nearby hospital from where four critically injured CRPF men were referred to Srinagar. However two CRPF men identified as Head Constable Bhula Singh of 144 Battalion and Constable RK Raina who was the driver of the vehicle attacked by militants succumbed.A civilian, Abdul Gani Mir of Gundipora Pulwama, was injured in ‘cross firing’ and was hit in abdomen and hip. 48-year-old Mir, a gardener by profession, succumbed to injuries at a hospital here lateSaturday night.
Meanwhile, the gunfight between the militants who taken position inside the EDI building continued for the second day today. The army summoned elite Para Troopers last night and when they attempted to storm the building before dawn on Sunday, the militants opened heavy gunfire on them, leaving an army captain namely Pawan Kumar injured. Kumar, a resident of Jind in Harayana was shifted to 92 Base Hospital where he succumbed.Later in the day, three more elite commandos including another Captain sustained injuries and were shifted to 92 Base Hospital.On their arrival, doctors declared Captain, Tushar Mahajan (26) of Aadarsh Colony Udhampur, as brought dead while another para commando Lance Naik Om Prakash (32), a resident of Shimla district in Hamachil Pradesh, succumbed to injuries later.
During the gunfight, sources said, the PARA troopers managed to enter EDI complex but due to heavy firing from militants they retreated this evening. The top floor of the EDI complex caught fire after army reportedly fired grenades towards it.Meanwhile, a CRPF spokesman here told GNS that he cannot confirm the death of a militant in the gunfight.“The death of a militant as report is not confirmed,” the spokesman said.Meanwhile, funeral of the civilian killed yesterday was held in which hundreds of people participated.Meanwhile, stone-pelting clashes continued between police and youths continued in Pampore Town as the latter attempted to march towards the encounter spot. The clashes left several youths injured.Meanwhile, a Scorpio vehicle carrying forces officials was attacked near Pampore with stones by a group of youth. The glasses of vehicle got injured in the incident, reports said.However, the CRPF who were already deployed in the area opened pellet fire and tear gas shells, resulting in injuries to three youth.The injured have been identified as Aadil Ahmad Mir of Meigi Pampore, Owais Mushtaq of Kadlibal and Muteeb Manzoor Malik of Drangbal. (GNS)