13 securitymen wounded in series of militant attacks in Kashmir

South Kashmir, believed to be the hotbed of militancy, witnessed another violent day on Tuesday. A series of suspected militant attacks were reported from at least four places in Pulwama and Anantnag within a short span.

At least 13 CRPF and police personnel were wounded in the attacks, and militants fled with four rifles from one of the sites.

The biggest attack took place at Laryar Tral in Pulwama district around 6 pm when militants lobbed a grenade on the camp of F 180 Batallion of the CRPF.

Nine personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were, said a CRPF spokesman. The condition of three was reported to be serious.

Hours later, a CRPF camp of the 130 Batallion in Padgampora area of Pulwama district saw another grenade attack. No injuries or damages were caused, as the grenade had not exploded inside the camp.

Militants also lobbed a grenade on a Pulwama police station, injuring two personnel. “Militants used Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) to target the police station. Two persons were injured and both are out of danger now,” a senior police officer said.

In the neighboring Anantnag district, two policemen were wounded and four weapons looted after suspected militants attacked the guard post of a retired judge late in the evening.

Police said militants attacked policemen guarding the house of retired Justice Muzaffar Attar at Anchidora in south Kashmir Anantnag district.

An official manning the police control room Anantnag informed that of the two cops who were wounded, one was critical. “The attackers also took away four self-loading rifles,” the official said. He said that the judge was not at his home.

Immediately after the attack, security forces launched a search operation in the area to track down the attackers.

There were also rumours of similar attacks in other parts of the Valley but there was no official confirmation.

Police said militants had hurled grenades at the CRPF camp in Tral late on Monday night as well. Minor injuries to a jawan was reported.

Tral was the hometown of popular Hizbul Mujahedeen militant Burhan Wani, who was killed in an encounter last year. His aide Sabzar Bhat was gunned down in an encounter by security forces last month.