Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir range Vijay Kumar on Monday said that the attack on CPRF men at Kandizal near Pampore in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district was carried out by two-bike borne Lashkar-e-Toiba militants who have been identified.
“Two militants from Lashkar-e-Toiba came on a motor bike and fired indiscriminately at the CRFP (CRPF) Road Opening Party (ROP) at Kandizal near Pampore. Two CRPF men died in the incident and three others sustained injuries who are stable,” IGP Kashmir told news agency KNO.
He said that the attackers have been identified as Saifullah, a Pakistani militant and another one is a local. “Hunt is on to track them down and I am hopeful they will be killed soon,” the IGP said.
He said that militants find it easy to target security forces on the highway. “Highway is a busy place where hundreds of civilian vehicles pass every day. If we retaliate and fire indiscriminately too, there will be civilian causality,” the IGP said, adding that “the attackers managed to flee from the spot.”
About another exchange of fire between militants and security forces in Parinad area of Awantipora, he said: “There was an initial exchange of fire but then no contact was established thereafter.”