One killed, 4 injured after abortive fidayeen attack in Srinagar

Srinagar, Oct 4 (UNI) One person was killed and four others were wounded in a heavy exchange of fire between militants and security forces after ultras made an abortive bid to storm the heavily guarded Dashnami Akhara building, housing the holy Mace of Lord Shiva near here today.

A security force official told UNI from the spot that a group of sharp shooters have entered the ground floor of a hotel despite heavy firing by militants hiding there.

He said the security force personnel will try to move towards the first floor. However, the exact location of the militants inside the hotel was not known, he said.

He said all the civilians in the nearby buildings have been rescued to safer places.

Official sources said two militants earlier hurled a hand grenade and indiscriminately fired on Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) guards posted on the main gate of the historic Dashnami Akhara.

When CRPF personnel returned fire the militants ran into the nearby hotel.

The body of one person could be seen near the entrance of the hotel building. However, it was not immediately known whether he was a militant or a civilian.

Sources said three other persons, including hotel manager Abdul Rashid were injured in the firing. A driver was also injured at Dalgate, about two km from the spot, after a stray bullet, believed to be fired by the security forces in the air at Budshah Chowk, hit him.

A UNI correspondent present on the spot saw militants hurling hand grenades from the hotel and also opening fire on the security forces near the main gate of the Akhara building.

A senior police officer said that one or two militants could be inside the hotel from where the firing was going on.

Sharp shooters have taken position on all nearby buildings.

It was not immediately known if any civilian was inside the hotel.

Shopkeepers in the nearby shops were rescued by the security forces and taken to safer places.

Traffic on the busy Budshah Chowk, leading to civil secretariat, seat of the Jammu and Kashmir government, Legislature complex and other important offices was suspended and diverted to other routes.

Senior security forces and police officials were present on the spot.

This is the first such attack in the city during the holy month of Ramzan.

UNI BAS PK PM1356