CRPF Officer Killed, 4 Injured in Militant Ambush at Athwajan

Srinagar A CRPF officer was killed and a jawan sustained injuries when militants attacked a small convoy of paramilitary forces on Srinagar-Jammu highway at Athwajan in outskirt’s of Srinagar Saturday evening.

Militant organization Lashkar-e-Taiba immediately claimed the responsibility for the attack.

Official sources said that the militants attacked a vehicle (bearing registration number Eicher JK01P-2127) part of the convoy of 29 Bn CRPF near DPS School at Athwajan Chowk at around 6:00 pm, injuring an Assistant Sub Inspector identified as Shab Shukla and a Driver (Constable belt no. 75025548) Nisar Ahmad.

A local policeman and a CRPF trooper were injured at the site of the militant attack when the rifle of a policeman went off accidentally.

All the injured were shifted to nearby army’s 92 base hospital Badamibagh where the ASI succumbed to his injuries, they said

In Photos: Season’s First Snowfall In Srinagar

Season’s First Snowfall Blankets Kashmir

The condition of the driver was stated to be critical and was being operated upon, when this report was being filed.

Soon after the attack, army, SOG and CRPF cordoned off the entire area and launched a manhunt to nab the assailants.

The area is barely one km away from the strategic 15-Corps headquarters.

Troops also entered Delhi Public School campus hunting for the militants, reports said. The national highway was closed after the attack for several hours, reports said.

Meanwhile, Lashkar spokesman Dr Abdullah Ghazanavi in a statement claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mujahideen Lashkar e-Taiba attacked on CRPF party at Pantha Chowk on Srinagar-Jammu highway, LeT spokesman Dr Abdullah Ghaznavi said in a statement.He claimed that three paramilitary forces personnel were killed while several others were injured in the attack.

Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now

Be Part of Quality Journalism

Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast.

ACT NOW