Indian forces taking positions near Shootout site at Hyderpora
Five army troopers killed, six injured in Kashmir ambush
MONDAY, 24 JUNE 2013 SRINAGAR: KDNN
Five army troopers were killed and six others injured today when militants opened fire on an Army convoy on the outskirts of the city ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Jammu and Kashmir, in the second major attack in three days.
Militants ambushed the convoy at Hyderpora bypass on the Airport-Lal Chowk road, outside a private hospital this evening. Five troopers were killed and six others sustained injuries, an Army spokesman said. Hizbul Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The militants, believed to be two in number, opened indiscriminate firing on the convoy coming from north to south Kashmir and fled the scene in the face of the retaliation, official sources said.
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 a CRPF personnel. "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.
A person Baliguddin, identifying himself as spokesperson of the outfit, called up a local news agency and said that Hizbul Mujahideen has formed several squads and similar attacks will be carried out in the city in the future as well.
"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.
Five army troopers killed, six injured in Kashmir ambush
