At least two Central Para-military troopers were killed when unidentified militants fired indiscriminately on a CRPF convoy that was on way from Jammu to Srinagar near Sempora Pampore in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.The CRPF bus that came under heavy fire belonged to 79 Battalion. Reports said that attacking militants shortly after targeting CRPF Bus took positions in nearby J&K Entrepreneurship Development Institute (J&K EDI) where a large numbers of employees were present at that moment.The storming of militants in EDI building created panic among the employees, however, according to the staffers, militants gave them a safe passage and did not harm them.A top police official told CNS that CRPF bus under attack was last bus in the convoy. “After Army vehicles, it were vehicles that belonged to Border Security Force.
CRPF bus was jam packed with Jawans and it was the last one in the convoy. As soon as it reached near Sempora, two militants appeared on the raod and attacked it. At least 10 CRPF personnel were injured, seven of them critically were shifted to Badami Bagh based Army hospital,” he said and added that troopers and police exercised maximum restraint and did not retaliate to avoid collateral damage.Reports said that shortly after attacking the CRPF vehicle, militants entered into EDI building. “At least 120 staffers and students were present in the building. We safely evacuated them, but unfortunately one of the civilians Abdul Gani received a bullet in his leg. Militants fired indiscriminately, however, we exercised restraint due to presence of civilians in and around the building,” said a police official.
Reports said that out of the 10 wounded troopers, two succumbed to their injuries who were identified as Gopal Prasad Singh and the Driver Constable R.K.Raina. The injured troopers were Bola Singh, Rakesh Kumar, Kanihiya Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar, Muneem Kumar, Rajeev Thakur, Baruna Thakur, J.Nagi, Parm Thakur. Eyewitnesses told CNS that shortly after the news spread that militants are trapped in EDI Building, people from Kakapora, Samboora, Kadlabal and Frestbal took to streets amid pro-militants and pro-freedom slogans. All the shops and business establishments got shut. Reports said that people from different areas marched towards EDI building and started pelting stones on the troopers violating advisory that police recently issued asking people not to approach towards encounter site.A top police official said that it may take some time to neutralize the militants. “It is an 8 storey building and there are more than more than fifty rooms. We have been finding ways and means to neutralize these militants which are believed to be two in number,” he said.The heavy exchange of fire was going on till the filing of this report. (CNS)