8 jawans killed as Army convoy in Srinagar hit
A day before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrives in Jammu and Kashmir on a two-day visit, militants on Monday ambushed an Army convoy here, killing eight jawans and wounding 14 others. The condition of three injured soldiers is reported to be critical.
While fleeing from the scene on a motorcycle, they further along the highway targeted a makeshift CRPF checkpost with rifle fire, injuring a sub-inspector and a local policeman. After a brief exchange of gunfire with the CRPF, the militants escaped in a waiting black Santro, leaving behind the two-wheeler, witnesses said.
Monday’s twin attacks follow a weekend attack along Hari Singh High Street, a business hub of Srinagar, in which militants shot and killed two policemen. The Hizb-ul-Mujahedin, an indigenous militant outfit, has claimed responsibility for all three acts, and threatened more such attacks in the coming days by “special squads”. The attacks took place despite a security red alert sounded days ahead of Dr Singh’s visit. The streets of Srinagar has had extra presence of police and CRPF personnel assigned to strengthen security. Other places due to be visited by the Prime Minister during his two-day visit have seen intensified patrols by the security forces to prevent protests and militant attacks.
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