Srinagar: Two policemen were killed and 12 others suffered injuries as militants attacked a bus carrying Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police personnel on the outskirts of Srinagar on Monday.
The bus came under fire in Zewan in Pantha Chowk area this evening, police officials said.
They said at least 14 personnel of the ninth battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police sustained injuries in the attack. The injured were evacuated to various hospitals where two of them died. The deceased included an assistant sub-inspector of the armed police.
The area has been cordoned off and a search operation launched to track down the assailants, the officials said.
A police official said that at around 6 pm, militants fired indiscriminately at a bus ferrying policemen from Armed Reserve Police (ARP) 9th battalion at Zewan area of Pantha Chowk, Srinagar.
“In the incident, 14 policemen were injured of which two succumbed at the hospital,” the official said.
He said that the slain cops were identified as ASI Ghulam Hassan ARP-861250 and selection grade constable Safique Ali belt number 782/AP9th ARP091317.
The injured were identified as Bishember Das, Sajad Ahmed, Rameez Ahmed, Sanjay Kumar, Vikas Sharma, Ab Majeed, Muasdhir Ahmed, Ravi Kant, Showkat Ali, Arshid Muhammad, Liyaqat Ali and Narender Singh, the bus driver, he said.
Police in a statement said: “Preliminary investigation has revealed that three terrorists had fired indiscriminately upon a police vehicle carrying police personnel of 9th Battalion near Zewan Pantha Chowk area of Srinagar.
“The police party was coming back to their campus after finishing their duties. Although the fire was retaliated however taking advantage of darkness the terrorists managed to escape from the spot. In this terror incident 14 police personnel were injured and were shifted to hospital for treatment. Among the injured personnel, ASI Ghulam Hassan & SgCT Safique Ali succumbed to their injuries and attained martyrdom, whereas the condition of other injured personnel is stated to be stable”.
IGP Kashmir on behalf of J&K Police has paid rich tributes to these martyrs, who laid down their lives in the line of duty, the statement said, adding, “the credible sources revealed that the attack was carried by Kashmir Tigers, an offshoot of JeM. In the retaliatory firing, one of the terrorists got injured and the group involved in this gruesome terrorist attack will be soon brought to justice”.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the families, who lost their kin in a militant attack at Zewan in Srinagar outskirts and also sought details of the attack.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said, “PM Narendra Modi has sought details on the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. He has also expressed condolences to the families of those security personnel who have been martyred in the attack.”
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha while condemning the attack, directed the concerned authorities to provide best possible treatment to the injured cops.
He also stated that the government is committed to ensure that the perpetrators are punished.
“Strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack on J&K Police bus in Srinagar. My homage to our brave martyred police personnel. We are committed to ensure that perpetrators are punished. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” Office of LG J&K tweeted.
Sinha said that the police and security forces are determined to eliminate the militancy.
“Directed the concerned authorities to provide best possible treatment to the injured. I pray for their speedy recovery. Our police and security forces are determined to neutralize the evil forces of terrorism,” Office of LG J&K tweeted.
