A day before PM, Sonia visit Srinagar, terrorists ambush, kill 8 soldiers

Mangalore Today/DHNS

Srinagar, June 24, 2013: A group of suspected Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists on Monday launched an audacious and daring attack on an Army convoy killing eight soldiers and injuring 11 others in Bemina on the outskirts of Srinagar. In a major blow to the security apparatus in Jammu and Kashmir, the terrorists ambushed the Army convoy firing at least 12 rounds resulting in the casualties just a day before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi are scheduled to arrive in Srinagar for a two-day tour.

The ambush was carried out on the Army convoy at Hyderpora bypass on the Airport-Lal Chowk road, outside a private hospital with the terrorists firing from both sides of the road. According to an Army spokesperson the bodies of the dead soldiers were taken to Badami Bagh cantonment.

CRPF IG Nalin Prabhat said at least two terrorists fired at the Army convoy. "Army vehicles coming from the side of Pant Chowk and going towards Baramulla bypass have been fired upon by couple of terrorists. They apparently have pumped in a number of bullets in the vehicle. Some casualties have taken place, but get it confirmed from the Army," said Prabhat.

 

 

Army troops along with police and CRPF immediately cordoned off the whole area and launched a manhunt to nab the militants, officials said. They said after initial heavy firing, gunshots continued for a few minutes but there were no reports of further casualties in the area.

An Army helicopter was also used to locate the terrorists, but the attackers took advantage of the small and congested alleys and fled from the area.

However, half-an-hour later, firing was reported in Barzulla area, two kms away from Hyderpora on Airport-Lal Chowk road. While 12 soldiers were injured in the ambush, another two sustained bullet wounds in a second strike. The terrorists fled on a motorcycle towards Barzulla check post where they hurled a grenade on the CRPF and police party manning the post.

In the ensuing gunbattle, CRPF Sub-Inspector Lala Ram was critically injured, while a policeman also sustained injuries. "One CRPF personnel has been injured in the militant firing near out Rambagh camp," Inspector General of CRPF YS Yadav said. The terrorists, believed to be two in number, then escaped in a waiting black Santro car, police said.

Claiming responsibility for the attack, a person identifying himself as Hizbul Mujahideen spokesperson Baliguddin called up a local news agency and said that Hizbul Mujahideen has formed several squads and similar attacks will be carried out in the city in the future as well.

Monday’s attack comes two days after Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists gunned down two policemen in the heart of Srinagar city.

Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi’s schedule has not been changed despite the attack. The Prime Minister is expected to announce a package for border districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Singh and Sonia will also launch train service on a railway section between Qazigund in Kashmir and Banihal in Jammu region that will provide an all-weather link to the Valley.