Arms and ammunition recovered from the four militants at the encounter site in Sumbal area of Bandipora. Photo: Mohammad Amin War
Majid Jahangir
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, June 5
The security forces today foiled a major fidayeen attack, killing four heavily armed foreign militants who tried to storm a CRPF camp. The militants tried to enter the camp of 45 Battalion at Sumbal in Bandipora district, 25 km from here, at 3.45 am. They lobbed grenades and fired indiscriminately. There were at least 150 CRPF men inside the camp.“The militants tried to enter the camp by cutting the wire fence. Alert CRPF sentries returned the fire and foiled their plans. The CRPF was later joined by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and in the ensuing hour-long gunfight, four foreign terrorists were killed,” IG (Operations) Zulfiqar Hassan said. “Four AK 47 rifles, a grenade launcher, seven UBGL grenades, nine hand grenades, 12 magazines of AK 47 and 147 rounds were recovered,” he said. The militants were carrying petrol. “The aim was to set the camp on fire and inflict maximum casualties,” a CRPF officer said.There was no collateral damage during the gunfight.Sources said the militants were killed close to the camp fencing and that they were first spotted by dogs. As the dogs started barking, the militants panicked and opened fire and lobbed grenades.“As the gunfight erupted, the power went off owing to the strong winds blowing at the time. The CRPF personnel, along with a Quick Reaction Team, engaged the militants, who were killed close to the main gate,” they said. Later, violent clashes broke out in the area. A shutdown too was observed. The authorities blocked cellular network to keep the situation under control.
Suicide attack on CRPF camp in J&K foiled, four militants killed
SRINAGAR/NEW DELHI: Four militants were killed on Monday while they were attempting a suicide attack at a CRPF camp in J&K’s Bandipora district.
Ravideep Sahi, lG (CRPF), told HT heavily armed militants tried to enter the camp at around 4.10am by opening fire at the sentry post. He added the militants were killed outside.
“The militants were neutralised 10 to 15 yards from the fence of the camp,” he said.
The officer said initial investigations suggest all the slain militants were foreigners. Sources added it could be a group that recently infiltrated the border.
Four AK rifles, one UBGL (Underbarrel Grenade Launcher) and some ammunition were recovered from the slain militants.
Union home minister Rajnath Singh appreciated the CRPF personnel for foiling the attack.
He specifically mentioned CRPF commandant Iqbal Ahmad, company commanders Shankarlal Jat and Pankaj Hallu, guard commander Pankaj Kumar and constables K Dinesh Raja and Praful Kumar in his statement for their alertness and bravery.
Singh said the four attackers, who tried to storm a CRPF camp in a pre-dawn suicide attack in Sumbal of Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir, intended a prolonged siege and extensive damage.
“The terrorists were heavily armed with automatic rifles, grenades and incendiary material such as petrol, and were carrying dry rations which indicates they intended a prolonged siege and extensive damage,” he said.
The minister said it was inspiring to see CRPF men staying awake all night and maintaining vigil, and to see the Jammu and Kashmir Police com to the CRPF’s assistance quickly.
SEPARATISTS DETAINED
J&K police detained two separatists ahead of a Monday meeting called to discuss the NIA raids on the homes of Hurriyat leaders.
JKLF chairman Yasin Malik was taken into preventive custody, a night after Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who heads the moderate faction of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, was put under house arrest.
