SRINAGAR: In a daredevil act fidayeen militants breached heavy security and sneaked into a fortified BSF camp situated at the gates of high security Srinagar International Airport in the wee hours of Tuesday. The resultant gun battle and explosions rattled the area, forced closure of the airport for several hours and ended 10 hours later with the killing of three militants and a BSF officer.
At 3:45am on Tuesday, three heavily armed militants stormed into the BSFs 182 battalion headquarters that shares a boundary wall with an Air Force base and is only 500 metres from the airport terminal.
The militants positioned themselves inside barracks of the BSF and there was heavy exchange of gunfire between the two sides. Residents of the area said that they heard dozens of loud explosions which rattled entire Humaham and its adjoining neighbourhoods.
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After forcing their way into the camp, the militants kept firing in which one BSF assistant sub-inspector (ASI) S.K Yadav was killed and three jawans wounded, police said.
The Indian army, CRPF, BSF and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir police were called in soon afterwards, police sources said.
The three militants were killed after nearly 10 hours of gun-battle. Militant group Jaish e Mohammed’s “Afzal Guru squad” has claimed the attack.
The attack resulted in the delay of landing and departure of some of the flights at Srinagar International Airport for quite some time, however, the airport was soon re-opened for civilians flying out of Srinagar. Flight services resumed as well.
Inspector General of Police Kashmir Munir Ahmed Khan told reporters during a presser that This operation was a quality example of cooperation between the forces. They operated in a coordinated manner, which is why it ended soon. It could have ended quickly using aerial weapons, but due to the presence of civilians it was avoided, adding that the attack was conducted by JeM militants. He said militants cut the fencing between the extension of Defence Colony and Gogoland to enter into the building.
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We lost one ASI of the BSF and three others sustained injuries; the three are stable, he said.
The IG said that, Some reported that the attack was at the airport. Media should be careful and responsible while reporting such things. You must get a confirmation first. These things have major ramifications. I request you to please be reasonable.
Regarding flight services, IGP said that: Only one flight was delayed from New Delhi. We wanted to make sure no militant sneaked into the airport as the operation started when it was pitch dark. The area has been sanitized.
He said that: JeM is a threat because the cadres believe in such kind of activities, like attacking the camps. We have to be prepared for such attacks.
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