2 BSF personnel gunned down, 4 others injured

PULWAMA:   In a daring attack a day after I-Day celebrations militants Saturday ambushed a Border Security Force (BSF) patrol killing two jawans and injuring 4 others near Bandarpora Koil crossing on Pulwama-Awantipora road barely a kilometer away from Indian Air Force Station in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

The attack, the fourth in six days and second on BSF according to police was deadliest which claimed the lives of two BSF personnel including an Assistant Sub Inspector. 

BSF officials confirmed that four jawans were critically injured in the attack who are being treated at Army’s 92 Base Hospital at Badamibagh Srinagar.

Police sources said that Indian Air Field located at Koil is guarded by 92,156 and 165 BSF battalions. “The gypsy carrying BSF personnel form 92 Battalion was on patrol when suspected militants in a daring attack showered bullets on it from the front near Government High School at Bandarpora Koil. The militants soon after the attack managed to escape from the spot. The injured were shifted to a nearby hospital but two of them succumbed to their injuries before reaching there,” a police official said. He identified the deceased BSF personnel as Assistant Sub-Inspector Rudal Yadav and Sukhbir Yadav.

BSF officials confirmed that four jawans were injuued in the attack. They have been identified as Driver Vinod Kumar, Constable Arvind Bahadur, Constable Jai Prasad and Constable Parpjit Singh. Sources said the condition of Constable Jai Prasad was very serious.

The security was beefed up across the district in view of the attack as intelligence inputs suggested that the militants may try to carry out more such attacks in coming days. Soon after the attack, the area was cordoned off while massive hunt was launched to nab the militants. The students studying at High School were allowed to go homes after the search operation was over. 

Principal of the School Ghulam Ahmed said that gun shots created panic in the area while students were horrified to see the men in uniform in large numbers. “As a precautionary measure, Government forces personnel advised us to stay put in the school and after the culmination of search operation, we handed over the children to their parents,” the Principal said.

Police said that no arrests were made during the search operation in Koil and its adjoining areas. “The road along the area is deserted and either side of the road is replete with trees. To nab the assailants in such areas is a cumbersome job and most probably, militants fled from the area after the gruesome attack,” a police official said.

The Koil attack was the fourth one in Pulwama district since August 11.

On August 11, 9 BSF personnel including an Assistant Commandant was injured when militants attacked their convoy near Kadalbal Pampore. A few kilometers away from the spot on August 12 militants carried out an attack on Jammu and Kashmir police party killing two cops. During the shootout, a civilian was also killed. On August 14, militants killed a Railway Protection Force jawan and decamped with his rifle on railway track near Malangpora Pulwama. The responsibilities of all these attacks were claimed by militant outfit Hizbul Mujhadeen. 

Claiming the responsibility of Koil Pulwama attack, Hizbul Mujhadeen Operational Spokesperson, Baleeg-u-Din told CNS that a special squad of HM carried out this attack in which all the BSF personnel on board were hit by bullets. He said that soon reaching their safe destinations, Hizb Operational Commander felicitated and declared a cash reward for the Mujhadeen who carried out the attack. Baleeg-u-Din reiterated that such attacks on government forces would continue in future as well and the attacks will be intensified.(CNS)

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