Fidayeen terror returns to Srinagar after two years

This is the first major militant strike in the city after a consistent decline in violence across Kashmir in the past few years. In fact,Director General of Police Kuldip Khoda recently said that ever since militancy erupted in Kashmir,violence was at its lowest in 2009.

Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen,a little-known militant outfit,has claimed responsibility for the attack. A caller identifying himself as Jamait spokesman called a local news agency in Srinagar and said that three of its cadres carried out the attack at Lal Chowk.

Eyewitnesses said that the militants were hiding their rifles beneath the phiran (long traditional gown).  “Around 2.30 in the afternoon,I saw two-to-three persons who were wearing phirans. They threw a grenade at a police vehicle. The driver of the vehicle died on the spot,” said Mukthar Ahmad,a shopkeeper. “Shopkeepers,customers,passers-by,everybody ran for cover. The militants ran towards Punjab Hotel that is close to the CRPF camp and are still there,” he said.

Inspector General of Police Kashmir Range Farooq Ahmad said that at least one militant is holed up inside a hotel building at Lal Chowk. “We have cordoned off the area and are going ahead very carefully as there are a number of civilians still holed up in the hotels and adjacent buildings.”

Ahmad,who is monitoring the operation at the spot,said one policeman was killed in the initial attack.  

After the attack,J-K Police and Central Reserve Police Force encircled Lal Chowk,sealing all its entry and exit points. In fact,the police blocked the city’s two main highways — Residency Road and MA Road. Gunshots were heard after a long time in the city centre where groups of anxious residents had gathered,looking for information about the civilians.

Policemen,wearing full combat gear,were firing occasional shots to pin-point the exact location of the holed-up militant. However,the presence of dozens of civilians in Punjab Hotel and the nearby buildings has hindered the operation.

Police officers said that the final operation would only be launched after all the civilians are safely evacuated.

“Around 70 persons are trapped inside my hotel for the past four hours. Most of them are customers who were having lunch at the time of the attack,” said Muneeb Ahmad,owner of Peak View hotel,who is also trapped inside the security cordon. “We have been asked by the police to wait for evacuation and stay calm,” he said. “All the civilians are anxiously waiting.”

CRPF spokesman Parabhakar Tripathy said two militants were holed up inside a hotel building. “The militants attacked the vehicle of Station House Officer,Maisuma and later took refuge in a nearby hotel. The hotel has been cordoned from all the sides.” He too insisted that the final assault would be launched after all the civilians were rescued. “We want to avoid collateral damage.”

The police and CRPF men have halted the operation after sundown and are trying to ascertain ways to rescue trapped civilians.

This is the first fidayeen attack in Srinagar after more than two years. On November 11,2007 militants stormed the battalion headquarters of the CRPF. The last such attack in Lal Chowk was on October,4,2006 when fidayeens stormed Standard Hotel after killing nine policemen.