Kashmir bypolls: Militants strike third day in a row

SRINAGAR: Deteriorating security situation ahead of the parliamentary by-elections in Kashmir Valley, with a CRPF head constable being killed on Monday and back-to-back militant strikes over three consecutive days in Srinagar, has not only cast a shadow over the election campaign but has rattled the security grid as well.

In the last three days, 2 policeman have been killed while 19 government forces injured in three separate attacks in Srinagar. On Monday afternoon, militants opened fire at a CRPF vehicle near Panthachowk highway on the outskirts of Srinagar in which six CRPF personnel and a 10-year-old-girl were injured. Later, one trooper died.

In a statement to newspersons, Lashkar-e-Toiba spokesperson Abdullah Gaznavi claimed responsibility and praised LeT commander Abu Musa for the attack.


“Even though the situation is not alarming, our effort is to avoid any such incidents. Police and other security forces are trying to control the situation,” J&K police chief SP Vaid told reporters in Srinagar.

Srinagar-based CRPF spokesperson Bhavesh Choudhary told reporters that these are sensitive times ahead of elections in the Valley as Hurriyat leaders have called for a boycott of elections.

“We are on high alert and the CRPF is doing its duty. Our companies were coming from Jammu to Srinagar,” said Choudhary.