Tasavur Mushtaq
SRINAGAR
Two phases of assembly election-2014 are over. With third phase scheduled on December 09 and in between a visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-his first election rally in Srinagar, Valley witnessed bloody Friday, right from North to Central and South Kashmir. In this terrible Friday’s multiple attacks, 20 persons including 11 government forces personnel lost their lives. Besides spill of blood, National Conference’s founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah was also remembered on his 109th birth anniversary. Kashmir Life’s Bilal Bahadur captures the frames of pain, blood, terror and remembrance
In first attack, that occurred in Mohra Uri, armed militants entered into 31 Field Regiment Ordinance Camp located in Mohra Uri at around 3 in the morning and opened fire and lobbed grenades everywhere, that created panic inside the camp.
Reports said that militants targeted the local policemen as well who had reached the spot soon after the attack. Uri pertinently is going for elections on December 09.
According to army sources, the attack carried by militants was audacious as they stormed the camp.
The six hour long fierce gun-battle claimed 17 lives including 8 Army soldiers, 6 militants and 3 policemen. Among the dead are Lieutenant Colonel and police sub inspector.
Army said that six AK rifles with 55 Magazines, two shotguns, 2 Night Vision Binoculars, 4 Radio Sets, 32 unused Grenades, 1 Medical Kit and a large quantity of miscellaneous warlike stores were recovered from the slain militants. The identity of militants is yet to be ascertained.
Encounter started in Srinagar’s Soura when a police party intercepted a vehicle carrying two militants.
Police claims that the two militants tried to speed away from a check point. Sources in police told Kashmir Life from last three days police was after the militant duo.
With the start of gun battle, one militant was killed. While other took shelter in nearby house to which the men in uniform are poiting.
As the inhabitants in neighbouring area got frightened, Policemen asking them to remain indoor as they try to peep through their window
After a while second militant who police claim was top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Qari Israr was killed. Police said that he was trying to enter the city.
After the encounter ended, locals washing the blood stains. while as police termed the killing of two militants including a foreign national as a big success and said that slain militant was involved in many cases related to killing and attacks on security forces.
In another attack, suspected militants hurled a grenade on police station in South Kashmir’s Shopian district. Eyewitnesses told Kashmir Life that the grenade touched a chinar tree and exploded with a bang. A police official said that there was no loss of life or property due to attack.
Shortly after Shopian incident, unknown persons lobbed a grenade in Tral town resulting in the death of a civilian. According to eyewitness grenade was hurled towards the fleet of vehicles accompanying Independent candidate Sheikh Abdul Rashid, however it missed the target and exploded with a bang, injuring 25 persons.
Chief Minister and NC’s working president Omar Abdullah at the graveyard of his grandfather and founder of NC Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah. Today it was Sheikh’s 109th birthday.
Omar at Sheikh’s graveyard vowed to fulfil dream of “Sheri-e-Kashmir” even at the cost of his blood. He further said that “he will bleed to keep the flag red.”
