Terrorists struck at Nowhatta area of downtown Srinagar this morning, triggering a nearly 5-hour encounter to flush them out. At the end of it, two terrorists were killed. A Central Reserve Police Force officer died and 9 others were injured in the encounter, whereas series of blasts heard in North eastern states of Assam and Manipur. However, no casualty reported from two states.
The historic Jama Masjid is close to the site of the attack.
The militants hid in a nearby building and exchanged fire with the forces, police said. Two were killed and their identity was being ascertained, Kashmir’s inspector general of police Syed Javaid Mujtaba Gillani said. Two rifles, eight magazines with ammunition were recovered from the site, police said.
Pramod Kumar, commandant of the 49 Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), was killed after four militants hurled a grenade and opened fire at a security patrol in an old city area.
Paramilitary troopers those were injured in the attack, was shifted to a nearby Army hospital.
Police said the attackers entered a house in Nowhatta – close to the historic Jamia Masjid, the main mosque in Srinagar. “Two of the militants were gunned down and the other two are still firing from the house,” a police officer said.
“Terrorists’ movement was reported from the area. We began a search operation and came in contact with the terrorists, leading to exchange of fire,” police sources said.
Much of Srinagar has been under curfew continuously almost for five weeks since the killing of a militant commander on 8 July sparked widespread protests, leaving 56 people dead and thousands injured.
Restrictions were tighter on Monday as separatists had called for pro-freedom protests to mark the Independence Day.
Assam serial blasts
Suspected ULFA-Independent militants exploded four bombs in various parts of Assam’s Tinsukia district as the state celebrated the 70th Independence Day.
There was no casualty or injury in any of the explosions. An improvised explosive devise (IED) exploded near Indira Gandhi School at Laipuli on the outskirts of district headquarters of Tinsukia town at 7.15 AM, the police said.
This was followed by another explosion in line no.6 of Badlabhata tea estate in Doomdooma area where the third IED was also set off at Masuwa locality. The fourth one exploded at Gamtumati in Philobari area.
Manipur Twin blasts
Two bombs, suspected to be improvised explosive devices (IEDs), were exploded at separate places in the state an hour before the official Independence Day programme started at the Manipur Rifles Parade Ground, police said.
The first bomb exploded at around 8.20 AM next to a saloon at Tera Bazaar in Imphal West district, police said.
The second bomb went off at about 8.33 AM near the gate of Manipur College behind Assam Rifles post in Imphal West district.
