In a militant attack on the wee hours of Thursday in Shopian district of South Kashmir, three army men and a woman were killed while five army personnel were injured.
The attack happened in the Mulu Chitragam area of Shopian around 60kms from Srinagar, militants ambushed a patrolling party of 44-RR at around 2:00am. They were returning from cordon and search operation in a nearby village Kungnoo.
The army personnel who were martyred in the attack have been identified as Sreejit MJ, Vikas Kumar and Ghulam Muhammad Rather, while the injured include Lt Col Mukesh Jha, Major Amardeep Singh, Surendra Kumar, Sumer Singh and Ajay Pal.
“While returning from Kungnoo, the CASO party was attacked by unknown militants at Mulu Chitragam at about 2 am resulting in injuries to six army personnel including two officers of whom three succumbed to their injuries,” the official statement of police said.
Former chief minister and the opposition National Conference leader Omar abdullah, in response to the incident tweeted, “Tragic news & deeply worrying situation in the valley. May the souls of the departed rest in peace.”
“South Kashmir as a whole is a major concern for us as for as militancy is concerned. However, Pulwama and Shopian area a major concern as we have both militancy and law and order problem here,” a senior police official said.
By Premji
