In multiple attacks two days ahead of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Srinagar, militants in an audacious attack stormed an Army camp in Uri in Baramulla district, killing 11 security personnel, including a Lieutenant Colonel, and targeted a police party in Shopian, hurled grenade on a cavalcade of an Independent candidate in restive Tral while a top LeT commander was killed in an encounter in the outskirts of Srinagar. In Friday’s bloody multiple attacks, 20 persons including 11 government forces personnel lost their lives.In first attack, according to CNS, that occurred in Mohra Uri, armed militants entered into 31 Field Regiment Ordinance Camp located in Mohra Uri at around 3 in the morning and opened fire and lobbed grenades everywhere, that created panic inside the camp.
Reports said that militants targeted the local policemen as well who had reached the spot soon after the attack. At least three policemen including a Sub-Inspector were killed in the attack. The six hour long fierce gun-battle claimed 17 lives including 8 Army soldiers, 6 militants and 3 policemen. Reports said that many army soldiers received burn injuries after they got trapped in a barrack that caught fire due to militant attack.A Defence Spokesperson told CNS that militants were heavily armed and well equipped who opened a heavy volume of fire with automatic weapons. He said that soon after the deadly attack, the troopers from the neighbouring camps immediately mobilized their Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs), who rushed to spot, surrounded it and neutralized all the six militants.
“The encounter between the Army and the group of militants lasted for six hours. During the initial part of the Operation, one militant opened fire on the vehicles of the QRT of the neighbouring unit rushing to the site, in which one gypsy skidded off the road and overturned, leading to casualties among the security forces. The militant was immediately eliminated by the troops of the QRT and his body was recovered,” spokesperson said adding that during the operation, a barrack also caught fire, presumably because of a kerosene heater toppling, in which some soldiers got trapped.He said that the operation continued relentlessly and by 9.30 AM, the six militants were eliminated whose identity has yet to be ascertained.
During the fierce gun fight, one officer and seven soldiers of the Army, one ASI and two constables of the JKP were also killed, taking the total toll to 17.Army said that six AK rifles with 55 Magazines, two shotguns, 2 Night Vision Binoculars, 4 Radio Sets, 32 unused Grenades, 1 Medical Kit and a large quantity of miscellaneous warlike stores were recovered from the slain militants.The three policemen who lost their lives in Uri attack have been identified as ASI Muhammad Akbar of Tappar Pattan, Constable Sanjay Kumar of Jammu and Head Constable Abdul Majid resident of Lolripora Pattan.
In Soura in the outskirts of the city, top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Qari Israr was killed by security personnel when he was trying to enter the city, police said. A police official told CNS that at least two militants travelling in a car tried to speed away from a check point at Ahmadnagar in Soura area on Friday. The policemen chased the car and in the ensuing gun battle, two militants were killed. Police termed the killing of two militants including a foreign national as a big success and said that slain militant was involved in many cases related to killing and attacks on security forces.
In another attack, suspected militants hurled a grenade on police station in South Kashmir’s Shopian district. Eyewitnesses told CNS that the grenade touched a chinar tree and exploded with a bang. A police official said that there was no loss of life or property due to attack.
Shortly after Shopian Incident, unknown persons lobbed a grenade in Tral town resulting in the death of a civilian. Eyewitnesses told CNS that grenade was hurled towards the fleet of vehicles accompanying Independent candidate Sheikh Abdul Rashid, however it missed the target and exploded with a bang, injuring 25 persons. Five of them were shifted to Srinagar for treatment while one of them identified as Ghulam Hasan Gojar son of Muhammad Abdullah resident of Zaji Khour died on spot.Police have already intensified random search of vehicles following intelligence inputs that militants might carry out a suicide attack in the city ahead of the elections and the scheduled rally of the Prime Minister on Monday. (CNS)