BSF jawan killed as ultras ambush convoy

For the second time in the last nine days, militants carried out an audacious attack on the security forces leaving a BSF soldier dead and two others injured on Thursday at Methain bypass, which is three kilometres away from Bemina bypass where five CRPF men were killed in a fidayeen attack on March 13.

“Militants fired at the vehicles of 8th Battalion at 7.30 am injuring three soldiers. They were rushed to the hospital where one of them Krishen Kalita succumbed to injuries. The condition of two other injured is stable,” IS Rana, deputy inspector general of BSF, Kashmir, told DNA.

Meanwhile, Hizb-ul-Mujhadeen and Jamait ul Mujahdeen outfits have separately claimed the responsibility for the attack.  Hizb spokesman Baleeguddin said the outfit has formed guerrilla force to step up the attacks in Kashmir. Jamait spokesman Jameel Ahmad called up local news agencies and staked claim for the attack.

This is the second incident in less than 10 days in Srinagar outskirts. On March 13, two fidayeens killed five CRPF jawans and injured 10 others including four civilians injured in Bemina. Two fidayeens —  Saif of Dera Ghazi Khan and Haider of Multan, Pakistan – were gunned down in a retaliatory action.

The attacks have come at a time when the police and paramilitary forces are busy battling the stone pelting mobs following the agitation launched by separatists seeking mortal remains of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and JKLF leader Maqbool Bhat who was hanged and buried in Tihar jail.

Sources said the militants are exploiting the law and order situation in Kashmir to regroup particularly in the relatively peaceful capital Srinagar city.

“Militants focus on Srinagar is two-pronged. First, the attack in capital city gets instant publicity which is like oxygen to the cadres. Second, they want to show their presence to rattle the forces,” said an Intelligence official.

There have been four militancy related incidents in Kashmir in March. Of which two of them were in Srinagar.

“We have never said there is zero militancy (in Kashmir). There is floating militancy in Srinagar: Militants from other areas carry out attack in Srinagar and go back. But there is nothing to worry. We have solved the fidayeen case and we will crack Thursday’s case as well,” Abdul Ghani Mir, IGP, Kashmir range, told DNA.

@ishfaq72