CRPF HQ attacked, Pak infiltrator killed in JK

Srinagar, May 1: Militants this afternoon attacked a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) battalion headquarter in the city while elsewhere in Jammu and Kashmir, a Pakistani infiltrator was among three people killed and four other intruders were arrested overnight.

A CRPF spokesman told UNI that militants hurled a hand grenade towards CRPF headquarter, set up in Shiraz cinema at Khanyar in the down town city at about 1540 hours.

The blast was followed by heavy firing, he said.

Eyewitnesses told UNI that the blast was followed by heavy firing for about five minutes in the area. Shopkeepers in the area left for safety reasons, leaving their shops open. Traffic on the road leading to the holy Hazratbal shrine was also suspended for about an hour.

A report from Baramulla said one labourer was killed and three others injured when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded in north Kashmir today, official sources said.

They said an IED exploded at Tutigund Handwara in the frontier district of Kupwara resulting in on the spot death of a labourer, Showkat Ahmad Dar, and injuring to three others. The injured were hospitalised.

The sources said the IED was planted by militants to target security forces.

An official spokesman said security forces guarding border noticed a group of militants sneaking into this side from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) near Hak Pathri Nallah. When challenged and asked to surrender, the infiltrators opened fire. The fire was returned and in the exchange of fire one infiltrator was killed. One AK rifle, two magazines, 79 rounds of ammunition, two hand grenades and one identity card issued by Pakistani authorities have been recovered from the slain militant.

However, four Pakistan infiltrators were arrested immediately after they sneaked into this side at Machil sector. One pistol with magazine and six rounds, one mobile phone and in Pakistan currency worth Rs 630 was recovered from their possession.

He said security forces gunned down a militant, Zafar Abbas Sheikh, in an encounter at Hapatnar forest in south Kashmir last night. Some arms and ammunition were recovered from him.

Militants today hurled a hand grenade towards security forces at main chowk Bandipora in north Kashmir this afternoon. However, it missed the intended target and exploded on the roadside causing injuries to two people. The injured were hospitalised, he said.

UNI