Body of an Indian Army soldier laying in pool of blood on the road side, after an army convoy was ambushed by unknown gunmen at Hyderpora Srinagar, Kashmir, in which eight soldiers of Indian Army were killed - PIX Zuhaib Khan/Authint Mail
Eight army troopers killed in Kashmir ambush
MONDAY, 24 JUNE 2013 SRINAGAR: KDNN
On the eve of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit, suspected Hizbul Mujahideen militants today ambushed an Army convoy on the outskirts of the city, killing 8 troopers and injuring 11 others.
Militants attacked the convoy at Hyderpora bypass on the Airport-Lal Chowk road, outside a private hospital this evening, the second major strike in three days.
Eight troopers were killed and 11 others sustained injuries. The bodies were taken to Badami Bagh cantonment, Army spokesman said.
While 11 were injured in this attack, another two sustained bullet wounds in a second strike.
The militants fled on a motorcycle towards Barzulla check post. They hurled a grenade on the CRPF and police party manning the post. In the firing, CRPF Sub-Inspector Lala Ram was critically injured, while a policeman sustained injuries. "One CRPF personnel has been injured in the militant firing near out Rambagh camp," Inspector General of CRPF Y S Yadav said.
The militants, believed to be two in number, then escaped in a waiting black Santro car, police said.
Hizbul Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the attack. A person Baliguddin, identifying himself as spokesperson of the outfit, called up a local news agency and said several squads have been formed and similar attacks will be carried out in the city in the future as well.
Army troops along with police and CRPF immediately cordoned off the whole area and launched a manhunt to nab the militants, the sources said. They said after initial heavy firing, gunshots continued for a few minutes but there were no reports of further casualties in the area.
However, half-an-hour later, firing was reported in Barzulla area, two kms away from Hyderpora on Airport-Lal Chowk road resulting in injuries to one CRPF personnel and a policeman. "One CRPF personnel has been injured in the militant firing near out Rambagh camp," Inspector General of CRPF Y S Yadav said. He was later identified as sub-inspector Lala Ram.
"The Army vehicles coming from Panth Chowk and going towards Baramulla Chowk was fired upon by a couple of militants who came from the side alleys," Nalin Prabhat, IG CRPF (Srinagar), told reporters.
"They have also struck at one or two other places in the city," he said.
Today's attack comes two days after Hizbul Mujahideen militants gunned down two policemen in the heart of Srinagar city.
Militants fled from the spot in a tinted car. A motorcycle, possibly used by the ultras, has been recovered. The attack came even as security has been beefed up across the Valley in view of Prime Minister's two-day visit.
PMO sources in Delhi said that there was no change in Singh's programme.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to reach here tomorrow along with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on a two-day visit, during which he is expected to announce a package for border districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Singh and Gandhi will also launch train service on a railway section between Qazigund in Kashmir and Banihal in Jammu region that will provide an all-weather link to the Valley.
Eight army troopers killed in Kashmir ambush
