3 BSF men killed in ambush by terrorists in Kashmir

Srinagar

In yet another broad daylight ambush, Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists today attacked a BSF convoy killing three personnel and injuring nine others near Bijbehara on Srinagar-Jammu national highway.

The three deceased BSF personnel have been identified as Head Constable Girish Kumar Shukla, Constable Mahinder Ram and Havaldar Dinesh. The incident which took place at 4.30 PM at Guriwan area, a place near a government hospital, 52 kms from here.

“Its an unfortunate incident. The BSF convoy was attacked on the national highway by terrorists who fired at it from the by-lanes near Bijbehara,” Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police K Rajendra said.

He lauded the role of the security forces who exercised utmost restraint after the incident as terrorists had ambushed the convoy from by-lanes of a thickly populated locality.

“The boys did not fire back to avoid civilian casualties,” he said, adding “terrorists want that the atmosphere should be vitiated ahead of assembly polls in neighbouring Anantnag”.

Additional forces have been rushed to the area which has been cordoned off by CRPF and Rashtriya Rifles. The security forces had to face tough time during their search operations when some of the people hurled stones at them.

Hizbul Mujahideen group has sent emails to some of the local news agency claiming responsibility for the attack.

In New Delhi, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh expressed deep anguish and pain at the incident and asked BSF Director General K K Sharma to rush to the spot to take stock of the situation.

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the incident and said it was an indication of worsening law and order situation in the state.

The BSF convoy comprising 23 vehicles was coming from Jammu to Srinagar ferrying jawans who were returning to join their duties after their leave.

The attack comes 10 days after the Hizbul Mujahideen had killed three policemen in two separate incidents in Srinagar city. They had threatened to carry out similar attacks.

BSF convoys have often been the target of terrorist groups. Last year in August, a BSF convoy was attacked by Lashker-e-Taiba terrorists at Udhampur in which two of its personnel and a terrorist were killed.

Another terrorist Mohammed Naveed was captured alive after the terror strike.

Rajnath directs BSF chief to rush to Kashmir as 3 jawans dead

New Delhi

Home Minister Rajnath Singh today directed BSF chief K K Sharma to rush to Jammu and Kashmir to asses the situation after three jawans were killed killed and four others injured when terrorists ambushed their convoy on Srinagar-Jammu national highway.

Soon after the attack, the Home Minister spoke to the Director General of the Border Security Force and instructed him to rush to the spot to review the situation.

Singh has also expressed deep anguish over the death of the BSF personnel in the ambush and prayed for recovery of the injured, an official said.

The attack took place when the BSF convoy comprising 23 vehicles was coming from Jammu to Srinagar ferrying jawans who were returning to join their duties after their leave.

PTI