Fidayeen attack on CRPF camp near Dal Lake

Srinagar SSP Asad-ul-Mujtaba said two militants stormed Hotel Boulevard, where the CRPF 144 Bn was camping, and a gunbattle was on. The attack began at 6.45 pm when people were busy with evening prayers.

The hotel is just a mile away from the Sher-e-Kashmir Convention Centre where Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was hosting an iftaar.

CRPF spokesman Prabhakar Tripathi said three men were injured and that one of the two attackers had been shot dead. A senior police officer said the area had been cordoned off and the operation against the other militant who had taken position inside the hotel would resume tomorrow morning.

Police said the fidayeen were from the Laskhar-e-Toiba. They said no civilian was caught in the crossfire though there was complete chaos in the Dal Gate area as people fled. There has been a steep rise in violence during the month of Ramzan. Security forces have killed 50 militants in operations across the Valley and foiled five infiltration bids along the LoC.