Attack on Army convoy kills 3, Hizbul owns up

A senior police officer said at least three militants were involved in the attack. “This could be the handiwork of Jaish-e-Mohammad militants who have presence in the area,’’ the officer said.

Hizbul Mujahideen, however, claimed responsibility for the attack. A spokesman of the militant outfit told a local news agency that the attack was carried out by its special squad. He also warned of more attacks on security forces.

On Tuesday evening, militants hurled a grenade on the Kakapora police station in Pulwama district that left five policemen injured.

The Khawaja Bagh attack was the third by militants since August 15. In an attack at Nowhatta in Srinagar Monday, a CRPF commandant and two militants were killed and nine personnel injured.

Ever since protests began in the wake of Wani’s killing, the Army had been moving its convoys at night to avoid any engagement with people protesting on the streets.

A Defence spokesman told The Indian Express that militants attacked the army convoy between 2.30 am and 3 am on the national highway near Khawaja Bagh. “Two Army men and a police constable were killed in the attack, there are some injuries as well,’’ the spokesman said.

After the attack, senior officers of the Army and police reached the spot and searches were conducted in the area. But the militants, taking advantage of the darkness, managed to escape. The injured soldiers were taken to an Army hospital. The policeman, who was taken to the district hospital, was declared brought dead .

Residents said they could hear gunfire for more than 20 minutes. “Around 3 am, we heard sound of grenades and gunfire and it continued for more than 20 minutes. We did not dare to step out,’’ said Ishfaq Ahmad who lives close to the attack site at Khawaja Bagh.

The policeman who died was driving a police ambulance which, officers said, was moving close to the Army convoy when the militants attacked.

A day earlier, the GOC, 19 Division, had said five infiltrators, who were killed in the Uri sector Monday, had come with plans to target a civil or high-value military target.