In Jammu and Kashmir, twenty persons including eleven security force personnel and eight militants were killed and several injured in a series of militant related incidents across Kashmir valley today. In the first militancy related incident a group of 6 fidayeen launched a pre-dawn attack at around 3.10 AM on an Army camp at Mohra in north Kashmir's Baramulla district. In the attack eight Army personnel including a Lt. Col and three Policemen including an Assistant Sub-Inspector of J&K Police were killed. In the gun battle all the six fidayeen were also killed and a huge quantity of arms and ammunition has been recovered from the slain militants who are believed to have recently infiltrated into this side from across the border.
In the second incident two militants including a top Lashkar-e-Toiba militant were killed in the outskirts of Srinagar city this afternoon in a gun battle with Police personnel. The slain top Lashkar militant has been identified as Qari Israr , a Pakistani national. Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police has described killing of Israr a big achievement as he was active in the area and was involved in militancy related incidents. One civilian was killed and twenty four others were injured in Tral township of district Pulwama when some unidentified militants hurled a grenade attack on security patrol at Tral bus stand. Suspected Militants also hurled a grenade attack on a police station Shopian. However, no one was injured in this grenade attack.
After the huge turnout of voters in the first two phases, militants and their mentors across the border in a desperate bid to disrupt the poll process intensified their attack ahead of the third phase of polling in 16 assembly constituencies spread over the districts of Baramulla, Budgam and Pulwama in Kashmir Valley which are going to polls in the third phase on December 9. The militant attacks comes just four days ahead of 3rd phase of polling in Kashmir Valley and three days ahead of the visit of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi to Srinagar where he is scheduled to hold an election rally on Monday.
Six AK rifles with 55 magazines, two shotguns, two night vision binoculars, four radio sets, 32 unused grenades, one medical kit and a large quantity of miscellaneous warlike stores were recovered from the slain terrorists in Mohra Army camp, Baramulla. Army is continuing the operation in the surrounding areas to search for any terrorists who may still be hiding or trying to escape. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the attack was a “desperate attempt” to disrupt peace and normalcy.
