Eight CRPF jawans killed, 21 injured as Lashkar terrorists ambush convoy in J&K's Pampore

Image courtesy: ANI

Srinagar: In one of the deadliest attacks in recent years, eight jawans of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed on Saturday evening when their bus came under attack from militants at Frestbal, some 14 kilometres from here, in Pampore district of Jammu and Kashmir.

A CRPF official said apart from the eight deaths, 21 jawans of the 161 battalion sustained injuries in the gunbattle that ensued after the attack on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. Four of them were reported to be critical.

Two terrorists were gunned down in the retaliatory firing by CRPF personnel.

However, two other terrorists, who were in car, managed to flee from the spot.

“Two terrorists have been killed. The injured (CRPF personnel) have been admitted to a hospital,” force commandant Rajesh Yadav said.

“The CRPF jawans were returning from firing range practice when the terrorists ambushed their convoy. Jawans retaliated strongly killing two terrorists,” Yadav added.

Reinforcements were rushed to the area soon after the news of the attack broke.

As per CRPF Inspector General Nalin Prabhat, both killed terrorists appeared to be Pakistanis and definitely from Lashkar-e-Toiba. In all likelihood, there were fidayeen (suicide attackers), the IG added.

Arms and ammunition including 2 AK-47 Rifles and 11 hand grenades were recovered from the two killed terrorists.

CRPF Director General Durga Prasad briefed Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the Pampore attack and will travel to Pampore tomorrow with other senior officials.

The Home Minister, meanwhile, expressed deep anguish over the attack on the CRPF convoy.

Deeply anguished to learn of the death of CRPF personnel in an ambush at Pampore in Jammu and Kashmir today — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 25, 2016

My heart goes out to the families of the CRPF men who lost their lives in Pampore. I also pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 25, 2016

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was pained by the death of CRPF soldiers.

I salute the courage of the CRPF personnel martyred today in J&K. They served the nation with utmost dedication. Pained by their demise. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2016

My thoughts are with the families of those martyred today. May those injured recover soon. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2016

Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju separately said “it's a matter of concern as many jawans were martyred”.

“It's a tragedy. All aspects will be looked into,” Rijiju told reporters in New Delhi.

J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, meanwhile, expressed her condolences “to the families who have lost their loved ones in today’s dastardly militant attack”.

Also today, two terrorists were killed by security forces in an encounter in Baramulla.

Separately, in Shopian, security forces busted a major module of the Hizbul Mujahideen and arrested three militants.