Three para-military CRPF personnel were killed and another injured when militants ambushed their patrol party at Wangam Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Monday. The militants are believed to have escaped from the spot after the attack.
Pankaj Kumar, PRO CRPF said that a patrol party of 92 BNcame under the attack of militants on Monday evening, resulted in the death ofthree personnel besides injuries to another.
The slain personnel have been identified as ConstableSantosh Mishra, Constable Chandra Shekhar and Constable Ashwani Yadav.
Body of a civilian identified as 14-year old Hazim ShafiBhat of Khaipora Qaziabad, Handwara, was found near the encounter spot.
Additional Director General CRPF, Zulfikar Hassan, said thatmilitants fired upon the CRPF Naka leaving three personnel dead.
“Three of our men have been killed,” Zulfikar told the GreaterKashmir. “Police can say who is the other person who was killed at the shootoutsite.”
Asked about snatching of weapons after the shootout, thesenior officer said that they are looking into it. “That we are confirming.”
Soon after the attack, reinforcement was rushed to the spotand the security forces launched a massive search operation in the area to nabthe militants.
The militant attack is the second major incident in Handwaraarea in two days. On Sunday, five security personnel including an Army Colonel,a Major, a police Sub-inspector and two soldiers were killed in an encounterwith militants.