Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 6

A day after a fidayeen attack was foiled in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, the J&K Police today said the four militants killed in the gunfight belonged to the Lashkar-e-Toiba.The investigators are, however, not sure whether the slain militants were fresh infiltrators or had already been operating in the area.In the wee hours on Monday, the security forces foiled a major fidayeen attack at Sumbal, Bandipora, by killing four heavily armed foreign militants who intended to set the Central Reserve Police Force camp on fire to cause massive casualties.The CRPF Director General, Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar, and Director General of Police Shesh Paul Vaid today visited the camp and interacted with the men who foiled the attack, appreciating their work.“We succeeded in foiling the fidayeen attack and the Jammu and Kashmir Police also helped us. There is a great coordination between the forces,” Bhatnagar told reporters after visiting the camp.The DGP awarded the security men at the camp who foiled the fidayeen attack. “The fidayeen belonged to the Lashkar-e-Toiba. They didn’t appear to be locals, their identification is being ascertained,” Vaid said. The DGP, however, said that they were investigating whether they were fresh infiltrators or had been active in the area. Police sources said the Lashkar was active in the area and many of its men had been killed in encounters this year.The post-mortem of the slain militants could not be done yesterday due to clashes that broke out in the area after the gunfight. After medical examination, the bodies of the four militants were taken to Baramulla for burial.

‘Roza’ helped Cmdt react quickly to fidayeen attack

Amir Karim Tantray

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 6

Observing fast (roza) during the holy month of Ramazan and waking up early to eat “sehri” proved helpful for Commandant of 45th Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Iqbal Ahmed to immediately react to the fidayeen attack on his camp in the Sumbal area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.Four foreign militants were killed in the gunfight which lasted for over an hour and a major tragedy was averted by killing these fidayeens before entering the camp.“It was 3.20 am and I had almost finished my sehri. I was ready to go for ablution before offering the Fajr prayers when I heard three gunshots. I immediately told my jawans to see what has happened and in the meantime intense firing started. I ran and activated the Quick Response Team (QRT),” Iqbal Ahmed told The Tribune on phone.“Due to Ramazan I was awake and it helped me to act quickly without wasting any time,” Ahmed said, adding that had fidayeen been able to enter the camp it could have proved fatal as they were carrying a huge quantity of arms and ammunition.Muslims all across the world are observing fast in the holy month of Ramazan and praying during the night and waking up early is a routine for every Muslim during these 30 days. Iqbal Ahmed, despite being on duty, was keeping the fast and it helped him to avert the major tragedy of his life.As the gunfight had begun, electricity got snapped in the camp due to strong wind and the Commanding Officer had to activate all corners simultaneously without giving any scope to militants to enter the camp.“In the beginning fire was coming from a nearby orchard and our sentries were retaliating to it. In the meantime, we were able to establish that two militants were lying on the road in front of the gate and were also getting cover fire from the militants in the orchard,” Ahmed said.“Our men didn’t let militants enter the camp and firing continued for over an hour. When firing stopped from the other side, we found that four fidayeens were killed,” he added. The CRPF camp was hosting around 150 jawans and families of some officers as well. Iqbal Ahmed’s family was also present inside the camp at the time of attack.“Due to summer vacation of my children in their school, my family was with me and some other families were also there. By repelling the attack many lives, including of officers’ families, were saved,” the Commanding Officer said.Since yesterday, Iqbal Ahmed and his Jawans are being praised at every level. DG CRPF as well as DGP J&K gave commendation certificates to CRPF Jawans today.

Saved families of jawans

• As the gunfight had begun, electricity got snapped in the camp due to strong wind and the Commanding Officer had to activate all corners simultaneously without giving any scope to militants to enter the camp
• The CRPF camp was hosting around 150 jawans and families of some officers as well. Iqbal Ahmed’s family was also present inside the campat the time of attack