J&K: 3 soldiers killed after terrorists attack Army convoy in Pampore

Three soldiers were killed after militants opened fire on an Army convoy in Pampore in Pulwana district on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the Army said on Saturday. Search operation is underway. Security forces have cordoned off the adjoining residential area and launched search operation to track down the militants, a police official said.

“Terrorists attacked, security forces retaliated. Public was present so we couldn’t fire openly but terrorists were forced to run away,” said IG (Operations) CRPF. There were reports that the Army bus was part of the convoy and was coming from Jammu.

A police official said two soldiers were also injured in the attack that took place at the place crowded with civilians at Kadlabal in Pampore town of Pulwama district on Saturday afternoon.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the militants might have used motorcycles to carry out the deadly attack, the official said, adding search operations were going on in the surrounding areas to track down the assailants.

Two militants were killed on Wednesday in separate encounters with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. The encounters took place in Anantnag and Baramulla districts. 

Militants opened fire on a patrol party of Army at Beewra in Srigufwara area of Anantnag district on Saturday morning, a police official said. He said the Army personnel retaliated, triggering a gunbattle. A civilian was killed on December 9 in firing at Arwani in south Kashmir as the Army and police launched an operation against militants.

Meanwhile, in Guwahati, a group of suspected NSCN-IM militants attacked a post of Indian Reserve Battalion at Noney in Manipur on Saturday and decamped with large number of weapons. Defence PRO Lt Col S Newton said: “There are no confirmed reports on which militant group is involved and how many militants attacked the post. Ground reports are still being collected.”