Srinagar, Oct 03 (KNS): Three militants, one BSF ASI were killed while four other security personnel were injured after a group of fidayeen attacked a BSF base near Srinagar International airport.
The slain BSF trooper has been identified as B K Yadav, while the identity of militants is being ascertained, officials said.
The 10-hour long gun battle started around 4:30 in the morning after militants stormed the 182 battalion of BSF which is entrusted with security of runway of the Srinagar airport.
According to the KNS correspondent, later addressing media, soon after the operation ended, IG of J&K Police for Kashmir zone, Muneer Ahmad Khan said the slain militants were from the same group which carried DPL Pulwama attack.
“They breached into the BSF camp by cutting a fence between Friends Colony and Gogoland,” he said.
Many top former bureaucrats, police officials and politicians live in Friends colony area.
The IGP, flanked by IG BSF Sonali Mishra, said such attacks will keep happening till militants are in Kashmir.
The IG said no doubt that the militants were from Jaish-e-Mohammed. “The attack was carried out by a group that had infiltrated during the month of the August, I believe. The militants were 16-17 in number. We will verify this,” he said, adding that the ten among those militants have been neutralized so far while some among them are still there.
Pertinently, three Jaish militants were killed in District Police Line Pulwama while the four were killed in Uri. With the killing of three more Jasih militants today, the number of recently infiltrated Jasih militants killed so far mounted to ten.
Khan further said that they are ready to deal with the rest number of Jaish militants. “There has to be different strategy to neutralize the militants as they usually come up with the Fidayeen attacks,” he said.
Khan termed the operation was a quality example of coordination between the security forces. “The operation was delayed to ensure zero collateral damage. The operation which started at 04 am ended at 01 pm,” he informed.
“There was no attack on the airport, contrary to some media reports. This was not a setback. Attack was repulsed very effectively. All these things will keep happening, as long as Pakistan is our neighbour. These attacks will continue till there is militancy in Kashmir. Only one flight coming from Delhi to Srinagar was delayed,” he said. (KNS)
