SrinagarAs Army Chief General Bipin Rawat was visiting the army formations in North Kashmir to review operational preparedness of troops, militants of Hizbul Mujahideen ambushed an army convoy on Srinagar-Jammu national highway at Qazigund in South Kashmirs Kulgam district on Saturday killing two soldiers and injuring four others.
Militants according to police sources struck near Lower Munda toll post in the afternoon.
Eyewitnesses said that an army convoy was on its way towards Srinagar while militants, who had laid an ambush near the toll post at Hiller, resorted to indiscriminate firing. The police said army men in the convoy also returned the fire.
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Six soldiers were injured in the militant attack, police said adding militants managed to escape after carrying out the attack.
The injured soldiers were evacuated to army base hospital in Srinagar, where two succumbed to injuries.
Four others are undergoing treatment in the hospital and doctors have termed condition of one of them as critical.
Police identified the two slain soldiers as Constable Manipanan and Naik D.Matey.
The four wounded soldiers were identified as Shiv Kumar, Srinivasan, Subhash Prakash and Ved Prakash.
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Government forces, according to eyewitnesses closed Jammu-Srinagar highway for traffic after the attack and army men laid siege around the area and conducted search operation to nab the militants responsible for the attack. However, no arrests were reported during an hour long operation. The traffic was restored after army called off the combing operation.
Hizb claims responsibility
Hizbul Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the highway attack in South Kashmir saying that at least four Indian soldiers were killed in the daring attack.
Hizb Operational Spokesperson, Burhanuddin told Kashmir based news agency CNS over phone that the attack was carried out by a special squad of the outfit. Our sources informed us that at least four Indian soldiers have been killed while seven suffered injuries. Field Operational Commander Mehmood Ghaznavi has decided to present a cash reward to the brave militants who were part of the squad, the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson reiterated that such attacks will continue to take place in the length and breadth of Valley.
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Chief Minister Shocked
Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti has paid rich tributes to the two slain army men.
The Chief Minister extended her heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of slain soldiers. She also conveyed her sympathies to the soldiers who were injured in the incident.
Mehbooba Mufti said that it was unfortunate that an unending cycle of violence has got unleashed in our society which only spreads miseries and desperation.
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