Srinagar firing: Militant escapes, eight policemen get injured

Srinagar, Oct 3: After a nightlong gunfight between the holed up Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander, Abu Huraira and the security forces in the Ahmad Nagar locality of Soura area of Srinagar, the militant reportedly managed to escape under the cover of darkness, on Thursday.

Abu Huraira is said to be the operations chief of LeT in Srinagar.

During the firing that ended today morning, eight policemen were injured and they were admitted to the Sher - i - Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), where the condition of one constable was stated to be critical.

A senior police officer said eight policemen including an assistant sub-inspector were injured in the exchange of fire between a guerrilla and the security forces in Ahmad Nagar area, 10 kilometres from city centre Lal Chowk.

"The holed up militant lobbed grenades and fired from an automatic rifle at the police after we zeroed on him in a residential house in Ahmad Nagar and challenged him to surrender," a senior police officer told a news agency.

Police had a tough time ensuring that no civilian in the residential area gets injured because of the exchange of gunfire.

"All the civilians from the house in which the militant had taken shelter and adjoining houses were safely evacuated before the operation against him was launched", the senior police officer said.

Intermittent firing exchanges continued during the night, but since morning no gunshots were heard in the area.

"We are searching the area right now", the officer said.

Abu Huraira is said to be the operations chief of LeT in Srinagar.

Yesterday, based on intelligence inputs, a raid was launched at around 6pm about the presence of a top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander, Abu Huraira, in Ahmad Nagar area.

Local residents said that they zeroed in on a two-storey house in old Ahmednagar where militants were reportedly hiding in a room on the first floor.

According to police officials, there was only militant but sources said there were more militants holed up inside the house.

OneIndia News

(With agency inputs)