SrinagarContingents of army backed by paramilitary forces and local police Saturday night cordoned off sprawling campus of Delhi Public School (DPS) in Srinagar and engaged militants in a gun battle there. Militants had moved into DPS after carrying out an ambush on paramilitary CRPF on the highway nearby earlier.
Reports said at least two to three militants ran inside the DPS after carrying out an attack on CRPF convoy at around 6 PM on the highway at Athwajan, in the city outskirts. At least two CRPF personnel were killed and four others wounded in the attack.
According to eyewitnesses, soon after militants ran towards DPS, armed forces stormed the school compound in 12 bullet-proof and mine-resistant Casspir vehicles.
The school is spread over a vast area with over 400 rooms in six complexes.
To prevent people from helping militants escape, authorities immediately imposed restriction on public movement in the areas around the school.
Restrictions under Sec 144 are imposed from police station areas from Ram Munshi Bagh to Sempora (around Athwajan) with immediate effect, DC Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Lone said.
The traffic along the Srinagar-Pampore stretch of the highway was suspended and the police, CRPF and Army reinforcements laid siege of the area.
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Meanwhile, following the directions from the authorities, telecom companies barred high speed 3G/4G across Kashmir Valley.
However late night reports said groups f local youth came out of their houses in support of trapped militants and began attacking troops with rocks. Situation was extremely tense, reports from the area said.
Meanwhile Vijay Kumar Dhar, the Pro Vice Chairman of the school, confirmed presence of gunmen inside the school. He, however, added all the school staff and students were safe as they had already left the campus.