CRPF Man Killed, Another Injured In Militant Attack In Maisuma

SRINAGAR – A paramilitary CRPF personnel was killed and another injured in a militant attack in the Maisuma area here on Monday, officials said.

They said militants opened fire on CRPF personnel at the busy Maisuma area here, resulting in injuries to two personnel. Both were rushed to SMHS Hospital, the officials said.

Medical superintendent Dr Kanwaljeet Singh said that one of them was declared dead on arrival while the other was undergoing treatment.

“At about 1530 hours, (militants) fired upon two CRPF personnel in Maisuma area of Srinagar resulting in critical gunshot injuries to the both personnel,” a police spokesperson said in a statement. “The injured personnel were immediately evacuated to nearby hospital for the treatment of their injuries. However Head Constable Vishal Kumar succumbed to his injuries,” he said, adding, “Keeping in view the huge rush of people and to avoid any civilian causality, security forces exercised maximum restraint.”

He said police has registered a case under relevant sections of law and initiated investigation. “Officers continue to work to establish the full circumstances of the (incident) while the whole area has been cordoned off with the help of reinforcement and search in the area is going on.”

Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha condemned “dastardly attack on civilians and CRPF personnel.”

“Strongly condemn dastardly (militant) attack on civilians & CRPF personnel,” he said in a tweet, adding, “My deepest condolences to family of martyred HC Vishal Kumar & prayers for early recovery of injured. Our security forces will give a befitting reply to perpetrators of despicable attacks.”

The National Conference also “unreservedly condemned the cowardly attack in Maisuma, Srinagar earlier in the day, in which one CRPF personnel lost his life.”

“Our condolences go out to his family and friends. Prayers for the swift recovery of the one injured,” a spokesperson of National Conference said.

Party’s vice president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in a tweet said: “I add my words of condemnation to those of my colleagues & send my condolences to the family of the CRPF man killed in the line of duty. Prayers for the injured man in the hope that he makes a full recovery.”

Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) also “strongly condemned” the militant attack on CRPF personnel, describing the incident as “mindless and shameful act”.

The Party also condemned the attack on non-local labourers in Pulwama District of South Kashmir, according to a statement issued here.