SRINAGAR: Two Lashkar-eTaiba terrorists holed-up in Delhi Public School in the outskirts of the city were killed after a 17-hour firefight with security forces that ended on Sunday, police said.The terrorists were escaping after an attack on a convoy of 29th Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force at Pantha Chowk-a high security zone less than one km from the headquarters of Army‘s Chinar Corps. A sub-inspector was killed and two CRPF personnel and a civilian were injured in the attack.Reinforcements were called once the police was informed about the terrorists sneaking in, and a combing operation took place inside the school which was nearly empty at the time -the students had left, but nearly 20 staff member had to be evacuated Saturday evening.
The holed-up terrorists fired at the combing security forces which triggered the encounter resulting in the killing of both the terrorists, the police said. Three Army personnel including a captain were injured in the encounter. Their condition was said to be stable.

Lashkar claimed responsibility for the attack. DGP S P Vaid said bodies of two militants were lying inside the DPS building. Vaid said the operation took long as the security forces wanted to ensure minimum collateral damage. “We wanted to ensure that the (school) building remained safe, because the enemy has a nefarious design that school buildings are destroyed and children forced to abandon their studies.We will ensure that no such thing happens,” Vaid said.