SRINAGAR, DECEMBER 13: It appeared as if the entire city were under siege. Militants carried out six simultaneous attacks in broad daylight on police personnel at five locations in the heart of Srinagar, leaving six policemen dead and at least 18 injured.The attacks, which coincided with the arrival of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah from Jammu, took place within a radius of a kilometre at Regal Chowk, Lal Chowk, Kokerbazar, Abi Guzar, old KMD Bus Stand and Batamaloo. Militants used silencer-fitted pistols and hand grenades. The five locations constitute the hub of business activity.All the attacks came around 3:30 pm within five minutes of each other and were carried out from point-blank range. These were preceded by a grenade attack at a BSF picket near Lal Chowk. Even as the grenade was thrown, militants shot dead two policemen , pumping bullets into their heads.The policemen, Abdul Qayoom and Abdul Jabar, died on the spot. Little later, in the nearby Abi Guzar market, Sanam Durjee,an assistant sub-inspector, was shot dead. Here too, the police officer's head was targeted. Durjee, as per eyewitness, died on the spot.Only a few hundred metres away, at Kokerbazar, a special police official, Bashir Ahmed, was killed in a similar manner. Another attack was carried out at Batamaloo, where militants first threw a grenade and later resorted to firing. Although no outfit has claimed responsibility for the attacks, the incidents have shocked security officers as the police were the targets. This attack comes close on the heels of the major offensive launched by security forces in the hills surrounding Srinagar today.The injured policemen were shifted to Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital. Soon after the killing spree, police personnel had disappeared from the roads. Shopkeepers downed their shutters as panic ruled. Soon mobile teams of police and para-military forces were patrolling the streets of the city. The attack left four jawans of 53 Beacon, Border RoadsOrganistion, besides two civilians, including a woman, injured. A policeman is also reported to have sustained injuries.Central team to visit KashmirNEW DELHI: The Centre is despatching a high-level team led by special secretary T R Kakkar, to discuss the law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir with the state government in the wake of today's killing of six police personnel. A decision to this effect was taken by Home Minister L K Advani. The team will have to take corrective action and make recommendations after discussing the situation with the chief minister, director general of police and other state officials.
