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Fidayeen attack CRPF headquarters in Srinagar

Shujaat Bukhari

Three policemen killed; two militants take refuge in nearby hotel

SRINAGAR: Militants carried out a fidayeen (suicide) attack on the headquarters of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the heart of the city on Wednesday. At least three policemen were killed and 10 others, including six civilians, injured in the ensuing encounter.

This is the first fidayeen attack in the city in four-and-a-half months.

The militants attacked the Dashnami Akhara building in the busy Budshah Chowk area around 11.30 a.m. They first hurled grenades, and then opened fire indiscriminately towards the building. It is here that the mace of Lord Shiva is kept.

However, an alert sentry repulsed the attack, which forced the heavily armed militants to take shelter in a nearby hotel. Some civilians were injured in the crossfire.

Many trapped

Panic gripped the area, and people ran helter-skelter. Hundreds were trapped as the whole area was sealed by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the CRPF.

"I was near the Akhara building when I heard a big bang, and immediately ran," said Manzoor Ahmad, one of the many shopkeepers who ran for their lives leaving shops unattended.

More than 40 people were evacuated from the hotel, and hundreds from the nearby offices, banks and business establishments. All the injured civilians and policemen were shifted to hospital.

The operation to flush out the militants from the hotel was on till late in the evening, and intermittent firing was on. "We are on the job, and things are moving in the right direction but I think the operations will be put off till tomorrow. The siege will continue since the area is densely populated," Inspector-General (Operations), CRPF, S.K. Singh told The Hindu .

Mr. Singh, who is leading the operation along with DIG (Srinagar range) Farooq Ahmad and Srinagar police chief S.A. Mujtaba, said the top priority was to ensure the safety of the civilian population.

Mr. Singh said two militants had taken shelter in the hotel. He confirmed that at least two CRPF men were also trapped in the building.

A spokesman of militant outfit Al-Mansooreen called up a local news agency and claimed responsibility for the attack.

He said three militants carried out the attack, and the target was the Dashnami Akhara.

Protests over killings

Elsewhere in the city, the killing of a man and his sister working on the fields led to protests at Gadool in Kokernag area.

Reports said an Army column patrolling in the area fired upon the duo killing them instantly.

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