We could have finished them in 1 hour...but: DGP

Srinagar, Oct 5: The Jammu and Kashmir Police today said the security forces suffered a heavy casualty in the 24-hour-long encounter with two Al Mansoorian militants near Dashnami Akhara building at Badshah Chowk here because the personnel avoided any damage to civilian life and property.

''Otherwise, we would have finished the gun-battle in just one hour,'' state Director General of Police (DGP) Gopal Sharma told journalists here after placing floral wreaths on the coffins of the police personnel killed in the encounter.

Eight people, including seven security personnel were killed, and 18 others wounded in the gunfight which the DGP said was not a 'fidayeen' (suicide) attack.

''The militants fired upon the security personnel and then took refuge in a hotel. It cannot be a fidayeen attack,'' he added.

Mr Sharma said the militants used to chose high-profile areas such as Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, only to attract the media attention.

''Had it been a far-off place, they (militants) would not got so much of publicity. They target high-profile areas only to attract the attention of the media,'' he added.

The police chief said the overall statistics show that there has been a decline in militancy-related incidents this year as compared to 2005. ''One should not read too much into these incidents. The anti-militancy operations are going on at all levels. During the past three days, six militants have been killed,'' he added.

UNI

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