Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 18

At least three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) men were killed in a militant attack in north Kashmir’s Sopore sub-district on Saturday evening, officials said.

They said militants attacked a patrol party of CRPF and police at Sopore bypass, some 50 km from Srinagar in which several jawans were injured, who were immediately shifted to hospital.

“A CRPF vehicle came under militant attack, injuring many. Three injured CRPF men later succumbed to their injuries,” a senior CRPF officer said.

Soon after the attack, joint forces cordoned the area to trace the attackers.

The slain CRPF men have been identified as 42-year-old head constable Rajeev Sharma, a resident of Vaishali, Bihar; constable C.B. Bhakare (38) of Buldhana, Maharashtra and constable Parmar Stayapal Singh (28) of Sabarkantha, Gujarat.

Two CRPF men were also injured the attack.

The attack comes a day after militants fired at a Naka party of CRPF at Newa Pulwama in south Kashmir, in which a CRPF jawas was injured.