Srinagar, January 07: The security forces on Thursday shot dead one of the two militants holed up in a Srinagar hotel in Lal Chowk nearly twenty hours after a massive operation was launched to neutralise them.
Although no official word has come on the latest developments, the reports coming from the area have confirmed that the security forces have managed to eliminate one of the two militants in the crucial stage of their final assault in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk area.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Hotel in Lal Chowk, where the two militants were hiding since yesterday has caught fire due to the cross fire.
The security forces are trying to douse the fire and prevent it from spreading to other areas.
A thick cloud of smoke can also be seen billowing out of the wooden top floor of the hotel.
Meanwhile, efforts are on to flush out the other militant, who has been indiscriminately firing on the security forces.
The operation to neutralise the two militants, which was suspended at around 11pm on Wednesday was resumed at 0700 hours today.
Firing intensified at the break of dawn as police and CRPF troopers began their final assault to neutralise the two ultras – believed to be Lashkar-e-Toiba operatives.
Revealing more details about the entire operation, a senior police official said, “We have fully encircled the hotel building to take out the holed up militants.”
The security forces suspended the operation as darkness enveloped the area Wednesday evening.
But not willing to take chances, the security forces are waiting to first ensure that there are no hostages and also minimise collateral damage.
“This is a highly congested area and we don’t want any collateral damage,” the officer added.
The encounter – breaking almost two years of lull of militant violence – began yesterday when the two terrorists, apparently planning to target a security establishment, lobbed grenades and opened indiscriminate fire after they were caught in a routine check near Pladdium chowk in Lal Chowk area in the heart of the city..
The militants panicked, fired indiscriminately and rushed towards a small eatery identified as “Punjab Hotel” on the adjacent Court Road.
In the firing and lobbying of grenades by the militants, police constable Mohammed Yusuf, who was driver of Station House Officer of Maisuma, was killed while seven others including a camera person of a New Delhi-based private TV news channel were injured, they said.
Intermittent exchange of fire between the militants and security forces was on as two militants were said to be holed up inside the hotel. The police rescued nearly 100 people from the adjoining area.
Though Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen claimed the responsibility for the attack, Police said it was the handiwork of Lashkar terrorists only.
Director General of state Police Kuldeep Khoda said that the police had foiled a possible suicide-attack by the Lashkar militants.
The last major terror attack in the city took place on October 11, 2007 at Dalgate area.
The attack comes barely a week after Khoda had recently said there was a drop of 25 percent in terrorist violence and that no suicide attack had taken place during last two years.
About the possible targets of the suicide attackers, the sources said it could have been the CRPF battalion headquarters located near Amira Kadal Bridge, High Court and civil secretariat.
The security personnel have attempted to throw a security ring around the hotel but the possibility of the terrorists sneaking into the adjacent residential area, which is heavily congested.
The sources said that an intelligence input was received yesterday suggesting that Lashkar terrorists were planning to carry out a suicide attack in the city. Following the input, the authorities sent messages on mobiles to public at large and officials concerned asking them to be on alert.
The entire area wore a deserted look with reinforcements rushing to the scene to tackle the situation arising out of the first suicide attack in the valley in more than two years.
Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen (JUM) claimed responsibility for the attack saying “it was aimed at sending a message that militancy is not over in Kashmir”.
The entire area had been cordoned off and all measures had been taken to prevent the escape of ultras under the cover of darkness, the officer said.
-Agencies