Srinagar/Sopore, July 6: In one of the most well planned attacks, at least nine policemen were injured in the coordinated twin blasts triggered by militants near a police station in north Kashmir’s Sopore town on Wednesday.
A policeman deployed in the Sopore police station said at around 8:30 am a rifle grenade was lobbed near Tehsildar’s residence. “It fell in the street and exploded there,” the cop said. “As a routine, police contingents went outside to take stock of the crime spot.”
The policeman said as soon as they reached there along with some officials, an IED fitted in a motorcycle went off at 8:50 am.
“Nine policemen were injured,” he said. “They were first rushed to Sopore sub-district hospital from where four critically injured were referred to Srinagar.”
The police said the numberless bike, fitted with the IED, was placed just 10 feet from a CRPF bunker.
“The attack was so coordinated that there was no civilian casualty in the attack,” the policeman said. “The street is less frequented by civilians as it leads to Tehsildar’s and Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s house.”
The injured have been identified as Constable Morifat Hussain, Constable Abdul Rashid, Munshi Ghulam Nabi, SPO Fayaz Ahmad, Constable Farooq Ahmad, SPO Muhammad Ramzan, Wireless Operator Shakeel Ahmad, Constable Amit Kumar, Farooq Ahmad and Head Constable Ghulam Nabi.
Medical Superintendent SKIMS, Dr Muhammad Amin Tabish, said one cop was serious among the four injured referred to the institute.
“Three are stable as they have received injuries in limbs,” Tabish said. “One is critical as he has received splinters in back on spinal cord and chest,” he said.
A police official termed the attack as “Taliban style”. “The same strategy is being followed by the Taliban militants in Pakistan and Afghanistan. They detonate one blast, when security forces and other investigating agencies gather, another is detonated to inflict maximum damage.”
“It’s a dangerous thing that in such a security apparatus like ours, militants could plan and execute such a plan successfully,” he said.
Inspector General of Police, SM Sahai, said the coordinated twin blast was not a new thing in Kashmir.
“We had one such attack near Kothibagh police station years ago,” he said.
Sahai said the militants were able to carry out the attack in Sopore since the police station was located in a crowded place.
“They (militants) do create minor attacks,” he said. Asked how the militants were able to park a bike near police station, Sahai said it was “a crowded place and it’s not possible to monitor all vehicles.”
Regarding militancy in Sopore, he said there were varying figures.
“There is some local involvement of militancy as well,” Sahai said.
After the attack, the street where the blast occurred was closed for one hour. However, later the market surrounding the spot and the main market opened and traffic plied normally.
The deployment of police and CRPF was witnessed in the town. Following the attack, Director General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda, along with IG visited the spot and reviewed the security situation.
“He reviewed the security and held a meeting with senior police officials, paramilitary forces and Army officers in Sopore,” said a police official. “He was also intimated about the militant activities in the area.”

Lastupdate on : Wed, 6 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 6 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 7 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST