Jaish terror attack: 2 cops killed

This is the first major attack by JeM on security forces in the Valley since Article 370 was abrogated in 2019.

NT Correspondent

Srinagar: In the first major attack on security personnel in recent months, the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group took responsibility for a militant attack on a police bus, on the outskirts of Srinagar, which killed two Jammu and Kashmir policemen and injured 14 others, on Monday.

Kashmir IG Vijay Kumar said: “This evening a bus carrying our 25 personnel was attacked by 2-3-three terrorists. 14 injured, of which 2 martyred, 12 out of danger. 1 terrorist who was shot managed to flee. JeM’s Kashmir Tigers has claimed responsibility. We are monitoring the situation.”

The attack took place in the Zewan area, hours after two of the militants were killed in a brief gun battle in Srinagar.

Monday’s attack is the first major strike by militants in recent months in the Valley. According to J&K police, around 6 p.m, militants fired indiscriminately upon a police vehicle near zewan pantha chowk area of Srinagar.

The location where the attack took place, is a highsecurity zone as a number of security camps are located in the area. The area has also a major complex of JK’s Police armed wing, housing a number of armed battalions.

A statement issued on Monday night by JK police said the preliminary investigation has revealed that “three terrorists” had fired indiscriminately upon a police vehicle carrying police personnel of the 9th Battalion. “The said police party were coming back to their campus after finishing their duties,” the police said.

It said that although there was retaliatory fire from police the militants escaped under the cover of darkness. The “terrorists managed to escape from the spot,” police said.

The Jammu & Kashmir police said that credible sources had revealed that the attack was carried by “Kashmir Tigers, an offshoot of JeM (Jaish-e- Mohammed).” “In the retaliatory firing, one of the terrorists got injured and the group involved in this gruesome terrorist attack will be soon brought to justice,” the statement said.

Sources said that 25 police personnel were present in the bus that came under attack. Initially, police said that 14 personnel were injured in the attack. Police later said that two policemen, an assistant sub-Inspector, and a selection grade constable who were among the injured succumbed to their injuries. Soon after the incident took place, a large number of security forces were rushed to the area and a cordon was put in place to nab the attackers.

The attack in Srinagar on Monday coincided with the 20th anniversary of the deadly 2001 Parliament attack, also carried out by Jaish-e-Mohammed.