3 security personnel among 6 killed, 8 exfiltrators arrested in J

Srinagar, Aug 17 (UNI) Three security personnel, including a police officer, were among six people killed while security forces averted two major tragedies and arrested eight exfiltrators in the Jammu and Kashmir overnight, official sources said today.

A militant was arrested before he could lob hand grenades at crowded general bus stand at Batmaloo today.

They said militants shot dead police sub-inspector Mohammad Jamal of police station Zakura at Lal Bazar on the outskirts of the city this afternoon.

Jamal was shot in the head from a close range with a pistol and died before he could be shifted to a hospital, they added.

Earlier during the day militants shot at and critically wounded two CRPF personnel from point blank range in the busy Koker Bazar.

The injured CRPF personnel, identified as head constable K N Mishra and constable Akhilesh Kumar were rushed to a hospital where their condition was stated to be very critical. One of the jawan later succumbed to injuries in the hospital.

Security forces immediately cordoned off the entire Koker Bazar and adjoining areas and launched a search operation to apprehend the militants responsible for the attack. The historic Lal Chowk and Amira Kadal bridge was also closed for several hours.

Security forces were searching the area with the help of dog squad and shopkeepers and other pedestrains were being frisked and their identity cards properly checked.

Sources said the militants who shot at and wounded the CRPF personnel were wearing red shirts.

Later, security forces detained about 15 youths wearing red shirts.

About an hour later, militants struck at Kanikadal in the old city and shot at and wounded a police constable Fayaz Ahmad of Shaheedgunj Police Station.

The injured constable was immediately rushed to hospital with a bullet wound in the neck.

A caller who identified himself as the spokesman of JeM told local media organisations that militants of the outfit carried out the attacks in the city. He threatened more such attack in future.

This was the first major strike by militants after the killing of four security personnel by militants at Karan Nagar and Dalgate on August 1.

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