Srinagar: Two days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposed election rally in Kashmir, militants launched 4 attacks within 12 hours in the valley resulting in killing of 11 securitymen, 8 militants and one civilian.
The four attacks took place in Uri, Soura, Sophian and Pulwama.
The first attack was carried out in Uri. 6 militants,8 Army men and 3 cops of Jammu and Kashmir Police were killed after a fierce gunfight broke out between separatist guerrillas and the army in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir early morning today.
The Army men who were killed included a Lt Colonel and seven Army personnel. Three policemen were also killed. The attack was launched by militants today on an Army camp in Uri area of north Kashmir's Baramulla district which is going to polls on December 9.
Three Army personnel who were martyred today included L/NK Gurmail Singh, Lt Col Sankalp Kumar and Hav Subhash Chand.
Uri is about 100 km northwest of Srinagar, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to campaign on Monday. According to PTI sources, Modi will go ahead with his visit to the Valley where he is slated to address a rally.
Second attack was carried out in Soura where two militant was killed. The third attack was carried out in Shopian while the fourth attack was carried out in Pulwama.
One person was killed and six others were injured when militants hurled a grenade at a crowded bus stand in Pulwama district of south Kashmir, police said.
Unidentified militants lobbed the grenade on a security patrol at Tral bus stand, 35 kms from here, killing Ghulam Hasan Mir (60) and injuring six others, the police said. They said the injured were immediately rushed to a hospital.
The whole area was cordoned off immediately after the blast and a hunt has been launched to nab the militants involved in the incident, the police said. No militant outfit has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.
These attacks clearly point out a larger design of the militants to disrupt ongoing assembly elections in the state.
A huge cache of arms and ammunitions were also recovered from the militants who were killed. According to reports available, Six AK rifles with 55 magazines, two shotguns, 2 Night Vision Binoculars, 4 Radio Sets, 32 unused Grenades, one Medical Kit and a large quantity of miscellaneous warlike stores were recovered from the dead terrorists.
In Rajouri of Jammu region, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said Pakistan should immediately take steps to stop this.
“If Pakistan is facing problems in stopping this, then they should talk to India. We are willing to help them. He said infiltration continues from across the border and the militants enter from Pakistan and create destruction here. “Is Pakistan not answerable to this?” he asked.
In Delhi, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said, “It is possible that this has happened because of elections.” Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the attack was a “desperate attempt” to disrupt peace and normalcy.
“Once again shows the desperate levels militants will go to disrupt peace and normalcy,” he tweeted. Police said at least six militants had infiltrated into the Valley from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir recently.
