Ultras storm govt office in Srinagar

Two militants stormed a building that houses the Press Information Bureau and the State Information Department here this evening, sources said. One of the militants was shot dead by security forces late tonight, they added. The militant was trying to flee when he was gunned down by security forces who launched an operation to flush out the ultras holed up in the building.

Intermittent firing was going on when the last reports came in. Fire broke out in the PIB building as well as on some adjacent buildings after police and paramilitary forces lobbed smoke shells to flush out the two terrorists. Some of the SSB personnel, who were also holed up inside the building, were safely evacuated by the police.

Haseeb Mughal, DSP Kothibagh, said four persons, including two jawans, have been injured in the attack. ‘‘We have rescued some of the civilians and are on the job right now,’’ he added.

Al-Mansurain called up a local news agency and claimed responsibility for the attack, sources said. A spokesman of the outfit said the attack was in retaliation to Governor Lt Gen S.K. Sinha’s remark that militants have lost the capability to strike in Srinagar.