Srinagar,
A Central Reserve Police Force constable was killed and a policeman injured as the security forces thwarted a possible fidayeen attack on its camp in Srinagar early on Monday. The militants were trapped in a nearby multi-storey building, triggering an encounter, which was still on. The Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) has claimed responsibility for the attack.

An alert sentry noticed two armed militants carrying rucksacks emerging from a house and approaching the CRPF battalion headquarters at Karan Nagar under the cover of darkness.

“The sentry immediately opened fire and the effective fire prevented terrorists from entering the camp. The militants fled the scene. Our parties and quick reaction teams were rushed and searches of the camp periphery in the residential area were started. Almost four hours later, a contact with militants, hiding in a partially constructed multi-storey building, was established,” CRPF IG Ravideep Singh Sahi told The Tribune.

He said the building was located outside the CRPF camp premises. “After the area was cordoned off, civilians from neighbouring houses were evacuated and the operation was launched. In the initial gunfight, one of our men was critically wounded who later succumbed,” he said.

The slain jawan was identified as Mujahid Khan of 49 Batallion and a resident of Bihar. A police man was also injured in the gunfight.

The exchange of fire continued as loud sounds were heard during the day. The operation is expected to extend as the building is massive. Minor incidents of stone pelting around the gunfight site were reported, prompting the police to fire tear gas shells. A police officer said the situation was under control.

The site is close to Srinagar’s premier Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital (SMHS), from where a top Pakistani LeT militant, Naveed Jaat, escaped on February 6. Two policemen were killed in the militant attack.