Srinagar, Aug. 26 (Agencies): Militants killed three policemen in a pre-dawn attack on the district police lines in south Kashmir's Pulwama, triggering a massive gunfight in which one militant died while three others were still holed up after nearly 12 hours.
Lt. Gen. J.S. Sandhu, commander of the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps, said two men of the Central Reserve Police Force and one of Jammu & Kashmir police died in the attack on the compound, which also houses many residential buildings,
Gen. Sandhu said that, as the operation began, security forces rescued a couple of dozen families staying there to pre-empt a hostage situation.
“In the early hours this morning, terrorists entered the DPL Pulwama and they entered the family quarters. There were a lot of families there,” Gen. Sandhu said, referring to the District Police Lines.
”In the initial action, we have lost a J-K police constable and two CRPF personnel,” Gen. Sandhu said.
The attack on the police complex is the biggest on a state security facility since September 18 last year, when militants attacked an army camp at Uri near the Line of Control, killing 18 soldiers.
The general said that, while a few police personnel were still inside one of the blocks of the DPL, there was no hostage situation.
“No, we do not have a hostage situation in Pulwama. There were families in those blocks, but we have taken them out and right now, the terrorists are there. In one of the blocks, there are a few policemen, but that is all. We will be able to handle it,” he said.
A police officer said that one of militants came out of a building and fired indiscriminately during the encounter.
“He was gunned down on the spot. His body is lying near a building,” the official said.
Indian troops have killed 134 militants, including 7 top commanders, so far this year, officials said. Majority of these militants were eliminated in the last two months after security forces doubled down on an offensive in south Kashmir and along the LoC.
Last year, 150 militants were killed in Kashmir.
