CRPF jawan martyred in Srinagar terrorist attack

A CRPF jawan was on Monday killed and five other personnel were injured along with two civilians, including a 10-year-old girl, as militants targeted a convoy in Srinagar, in yet another attack on security forces.

Militants opened fire on a civilian passenger vehicle carrying CRPF jawans at Sempora in the Pantha Chowk area in the afternoon, a police official said.

He said six CRPF personnel were injured in the attack by the militants, who managed to flee taking advantage of the ensuing chaos. One of the injured personnel, Head Constable Basappa, later succumbed to his injuries, the official said.

Two other security personnel were said to be critical.

The civilian driver of the vehicle and a 10-year-old girl also sustained injuries in the attack, he added.

The CRPF jawans were on their way to Srinagar for duty in connection with the upcoming Lok Sabha bypolls.

This is the third militant attack on security forces in Srinagar in as many days.

Last evening, militants hurled a grenade at a police party in Nowhatta area of old Srinagar, killing one cop and injuring 15 other security personnel.

On April 1, militants had opened fire on an army convoy on the Parimpora-Pantha Chowk bypass, injuring two jawans.

Meanwhile, Pakistan on Monday violated the ceasefire by resorting to firing and mortar shelling on forward posts along the Line of Control in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

"Pakistan Army initiated indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatic and mortar shells at 0930 hours today on Indian Army posts along the LoC in Poonch sector," a Defence Spokesman said.

Indian troops deployed at forward posts retaliated strongly and effectively, he said, adding the exchange of fire is underway.

The heavy mortar shelling in Digwar area triggered panic among border dwellers.

A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), Naib Subedar S Sanayaima Som, was killed in the same area in an IED blast on April 1.

In another ceasefire violation, Pakistani troops opened fire and lobbed shells on a forward post in Balakote sector of Rajouri district early this morning, an official said.

He said that Indian soldiers retaliated and the firing continued till 1100 hours.

In March, Pakistan violated the truce four times along the LoC in Poonch.