Militants attack top VIP colony in Rajouri, ‘fierce’ encounter still on

The complex houses Rajouri Deputy Commissioner K Isfandiyar Khan; Deputy Inspector General S S Bijral and Senior Superintendent of Police B R Manhas. Former Member of the Legislative Council, Bashir Ahmed Lone of the National Conference, also lives there.

The Special Operations Group, the police and the Army have cordoned off the area, sealed all entry and exit points.

During the gunbattle, a cowshed where the militants were first spotted has been destroyed. When reports last came in the militants were said to have taken shelter in a nearby maize field.

Police sources told The Indian Express that over the past few days, they have intercepted wireless messages from across the border instructing militant commanders to target VIPs to scuttle the forthcoming election process.

To zero in on the attackers, security personnel evacuated residents in the neighbouring houses in which the militants are believed to have taken shelter.

When contacted Isfandiyar Khan, Deputy Commissioner, said the militants’ target was clearly the VIPs. ‘‘Otherwise, there’s no purpose taking shelter in D C Colony,’’ he said.