Militants attack CRPF camp, 5 jawans, two ultras killed

 

Srinagar, Mar 13, 2013, (PTI): In the first major terror attack in Kashmir in three years, militants today stormed a CRPF camp adjoining a school in the heart of the city in Bemina area killing five jawans and injuring at least seven others.

 

Two fidayeen (suicide militants), who carried out the attack lobbing several grenades and resorting to heavy firing, were also killed.

 

Three civilians were also injured in the attack that began at 10:45 am, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told the state Assembly in Jammu. All the three were rushed to hospital and are out of danger, he said.

 

"Five jawans have been martyred and seven have been injured," IGP(Kashmir) Abdul Gani Mir told reporters at the spot. Four to five CRPF jawans were among the injured.

 

He said it was not immediately clear whether there were two or three militants who hurled grenades and opened indiscriminate firing at the CRPF camp. No militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack.

 

"Two fidayeen (suicide militants) were neutralised and searches are going on," Mir said. He said the group affiliation and identity of the militants killed in the incident was a matter of investigation.

 

The CRPF camp at Bemina is surrounded by the Police Public School and many government buildings.

 

However, the school was closed due to strike called by separatists in support of their demand for return of mortal remains of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru.

 

"It was a fidayeen attack-- both the militants who were involved in the attack have been killed-- attack has been neutralised", Omar said.

 

A senior CRPF official said the militants lobbed several grenades and resorted to heavy firing at a detachment of the paramilitary force near the school ground where some people were playing cricket.

 

This is the first suicide attack in Kashmir in the last three years with the last such incident taking place in January 2010.

 

On March 2, militants had shot dead two policemen in Handwara area of Kupwara district.

 

The Chief Minister said four to five CRPF jawans were injured in the attack.

 

"Besides three civilians were also injured-- they had splinter injuries and they have been hospitalised", he said, replying to the issue raised by members Balwant Singh Mankotia and Irfan Shah in the Legislative Assembly.

 

"It was a fidayeen attack-- both the militants involved in the attack have been killed -- the attack has been neutralised", Omar said.