Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 18

For the first time after the unilateral ceasefire was announced by the Centre, militants attacked an Army patrol in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district early Friday. However, no one was injured in the attack.
Militants fired upon a patrol party of 13 Rashtriya Rifles in the Bonikhan area of Hajin, 32 km from Srinagar around 1.40 am. “A brief exchange of fire took place between the two sides,” a source said, adding that none was injured during the gunfight.”
Soon after the exchange of fire, additional soldiers were rushed to the area. However, no further contact with militants was established.
The gunfight took place a day after a youth was tortured to death by militants in the area. The police blamed the Lashkar-e-Toiba for the abduction and killing of Hilal Ahmad Parray, whose tortured body was recovered from an orchard on Thursday morning in Hajin. Several killings have taken place in Hajin in the last few months.
The attack on an Army patrol took place two days after the Centre announced cessation of counter-militant operations across Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan. The security forces, however, reserve the right to retaliate if attacked or if essential to protect the lives of innocent people.
Since the announcement of the ceasefire on Wednesday, militants have made their presence felt at least four places across Kashmir. On Thursday evening, militants looted three rifles from a guard post at a high security zone in Srinagar. The police have already sounded an alert following the rifle looting incident, which took place close to the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 330-MW Kishanganga hydroelectric project.
Hajin gunfight
Militants fired upon a patrol party of 13 Rashtriya Rifles in the Bonikhan area of Hajin, 32 km from Srinagar around 1.40 am on Friday.
A brief exchange of fire took place between the two sides. None was injured during the gunfight. Soon after the exchange of fire, additional soldiers were rushed to the area. However, no further contact with militants was established.