2 CRPF men killed in attack on vehicle

SRINAGAR : Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, including an officer, were killed and a civilian was among two people injured when militants attacked a CRPF vehicle at Achabal in south Kashmir, seven kilometres from Anantnag town.

Officials said that CRPF personnel were attacked by vehicle borne militants.

Militant outfit Lashkar-etoiba has claimed responsibility.

Soon after the attack, the Army and police launched a search operation in the area. However, the militants managed to escape.

Security in South Kashmir was beefed up following a strike call by separatist leadership on July 13 to celebrate it as Martyrs Day.

Officials said that militants opened fire on the CRPF personnel of 96 battalion who were on Road Opening Party (ROP) duty.

In the attack, three CRPF personnel were seriously injured. The injured were shifted to the hospital where two of them succumbed to their injuries. One among them is assistant sub inspector M L Meena.

The condition of the injured civilian is stated to be stable.

A police spokesman confirmed the killing of the two CRPF personnel in the attack. “Around 11 am, vehicle borne militants opened fire on CRPF deployment at Achabal. In the incident, three CRPF personnel were injured, two of whom later succumbed to injuries. One civilian was also injured in the incident,’’ he said, adding a case has been registered and investigations have been started.

A senior police officer said that they have got details about the militants. “We have some clues and soon the militants will be nabbed.’’

A local shopkeeper said, “It was a swift attack on the CRPF and the militants fled. Though police and army had cordoned off the area and searched vehicles, but they couldn’t trace the militants responsible for the attack.’