Two cops were killed and 12 others injured as militants opened fire on a police bus in a high-security area near Srinagar city on Monday.
This is the first major attack on the security forces in the valley since Article 370 was abrogated in 2019, revoking the temporary special status accorded to Jammu and Kashmir.
The militants opened fire on the police bus carrying personnel of the 9th Battalion of J&K Police’s armed wing on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway. The incident took place in Zewan on the outskirts of Srinagar city.
The police initially said that 14 cops were injured in the attack. Two policemen succumbed to their injuries later.
“Terrorists fired upon a police vehicle near Zewan in Panthachowk area of Srinagar. 14 personnel were injured in the attack. All the injured personnel was evacuated to the hospital. Area cordoned off. Further details to follow,” the J&K Police tweeted.
They added, “Among the injured police personnel, an ASI (Assistant Sub Inspector) and a selection grade constable succumbed to their injuries and attained martyrdom.”
Police sources that several injured cops were seriously injured and are in extremely critical condition. They expressed fears that the death toll may go up later.
The sources further said that according to preliminary reports, two militants were involved in the attack. The manner in which the attack was carried out suggests that the attackers were part of a ‘fidayeen’ outfit, they added,
Monday’s attack took place in a high-security zone that has a huge presence of security personnel, including police and paramilitary forces. The J&K Police’s Armed complex that houses several armed police battalions is located in Zewan. It also has camps of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel.
The incident comes two days after militants killed two policemen in an attack in Bandipore. The police said they have identified the militant who was responsible for carrying out that attack.
