Three BSF personnel were killed and nine injured when militants ambushed a BSF convoy on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway in south Kashmir on Friday.
At 4.20 p.m., some militants appeared at Goriwan area near Bijbehara town in Anantnag district, 50 km from Srinagar, and opened fire with automatic weapons on the BSF convoy.
“The number of militants involved in the attack could not be confirmed immediately,” Srinagar-based BSF spokesman Vishwa Bandu told The Hindu.
The exchange of fire lasted for more than 15 minutes. Preliminary reports suggest militants were hiding in a government sub-district hospital.
Hizb claims responsibility
Militant outfit Hizbul Mujhadeen’s spokesman Burhanuddin claimed responsibility. “The attack was carried out by a special squad. Hizbul’s field commander has directed the squad to intensify attacks on forces,” Burhanuddin told a local news agency CNS in Srinagar.
Similar attack in February
Militants struck on the same highway near Pampore on February 21 and stormed the Entrepreneur Development Institute (EDI), which left three militants and three soldiers dead. Friday’s attack comes when bypoll for the Assembly constituency of Anantnag is scheduled on June 22. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is among the nine candidates in the fray.
Security agencies have launched a major offensive against Hizbul cadre after the arrest of Tariq Pandit, lieutenant of its commander Burhan Wani from Pulwama district on May 28. Scores of raids have been carried out in and around Pulwama district after Pandit’s arrest.
