Terror strikes again: CRPF camp in Srinagar attacked, 1 killed

A Central Reserve Police Force camp in Kashmir was attacked by militants this morning, with a gunfight breaking out between security forces and the attackers. One CRPF jawan died after being grievously injured in the encounter as the attackers took shelter in a building in Srinagar's Karan Nagar area.

An encounter is on near SMHS hospital from where Pakistani terrorist Naveed Jutt alias Abu Hunzullah escaped on 6 February after killing 2 policemen.

According to NDTV, gunshots can be heard intermittently as security forces engage with two terrorists hiding in a building close to the hospital.

The attack comes close on the heels of the strike on the Army camp at Sunjwan in Jammu by a group of Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists, which left six people, including five Army personnel, dead and ten others injured.

According to ANI, the CRPF man was wounded in the shootout as the security forces prepared for a final assault against the holed-up militants. He was shifted to the nearby SMHS hospital barely 300 metres away from the site of the gunfight, where he died.

At daybreak today, a sentry spotted few men with AK 47 rifles and bags approach the CRPF camp at Karan Nagar in Srinagar. Some of the terrorists escaped after the sentry fired at them.

''During searches in the peripheral area of the camp, it was found that the terrorists had entered a building in the area, which was later surrounded and fire exchanges are continuing between the terrorists and the security forces," a senior police officer said.

Troops of the CRPF and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police were carrying out the operation against the militants.

Kashmir police chief S P Vaid in a tweet said, "I congratulate alert CRPF sentry for averting suicidal attack in Karan Nagar Srinagar. Fortunately two terrorists are in cordon and exchange of fire going on."

Speaking to news agencies, CRPF Inspector General Ravideep Sahai said, "They (militants) couldn't enter the headquarters but sneaked in a building close to the HQ. Five families have been evacuated. Operation is on."

Earlier in the day, the militants had attempted to strike a CRPF camp but their attack was foiled, officials said.

The militants fled from the spot and took shelter in an under-construction house nearby, the officials said.

Intermittent exchange of fire was reported and the CRPF has moved in more troops to ensure that the militants do not escape.