Lashkar ultras carried out Bandipora attack: DGP

SRINAGAR: The four militants who were killed during an alleged suicide attack on a CRPF camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora on Monday were from the Lashkar-e-Taiba and were foreigners, police said on Tuesday.

Director general of J&K Police (DGP), SP Vaid said that it was a matter of investigation to say whether the group was old or had recently infiltrated.

“They don’t seem (to be) from here and are from the LeT. It needs to be investigated when they infiltrated,” he said.

While police is ascertaining the identities of the militants, locals on Monday protested demanding their bodies for burial. This led to some clashes between protesters and police. Some local reports said the bodies were buried late Monday night in the neighbouring Baramulla district in a graveyard demarcated for unidentified militants. Police control room in Bandipora confirmed the development.

CRPF CHIEF VISITS CAMP, SAYS HERE TO BOOST JAWANS’ MORALE

On Tuesday, CRPF directed general Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar and DGP SP Vaid interacted with jawans of CRPF’s 45 battalion in Sumbal. The battalion was targeted in the wee hours on Monday. The two lauded the efforts of the CRPF and J&K Police for their quick response in tackling the attackers.

Security forces say they foiled the attempt of the four attackers to storm the camp and killed them before they could inflict damage. “The forces worked together and fought bravely to keep the people and camp safe. I have come here to boost the morale of my jawans,” Bhatnagar told mediapersons. “We have come to this spot and we are working in coordination,” he added. Officers and jawans of 45 CRPF battalion, alongwith local DSP, SHO and constable of J&K Police, were awarded DG’s commendation disc and certificate for their swift and gallant action.

On Monday, Union home minister Rajnath Singh had said the attackers intended a “prolonged siege and extensive damage” as they were “heavily armed with automatic rifles, grenades and incendiary material like petrol, and were carrying dry rations”.

PTI FILE Personnel of the special operation group of J&K Police inspecting the arms and ammunition recovered from four suicide bombers who were killed at Sumbal in Bandipora on Monday.