After months of calm, militants struck in Srinagar on Saturday, firing on a policeman and two CRPF personnel at point-blank range in two separate incidents. While the policeman was killed, the CRPF men were injured seriously. So far, no militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Firing at point-blank range, the militants shot the two CRPF personnel below the head at Regal Chowk. They were deployed on the Residency Road. As the pedestrians and shopkeepers ran for safety, the militants took advantage and fled. Both the CRPF men were critically injured and were shifted to Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS). “Around 11.30 am, militants fired at the two personnel at Regal Chowk,” PRO of CRPF Prabhakar Tripathi told The Indian Express.

“They were hit below the head and were rushed to SKIMS for treatment.” Doctors have operated on both the injured and shifted them to the ICU.

Tripathi identified the injured as Firdous Ahmad Bhat and B D Ghosh, both working with the CRPF’s 132 Battalion posted in Kashmir for counter-insurgency operations. Bhat hailed from north Kashmir’s Baramulla district and had joined the force three years ago. Ghosh, who had been recruited in the force in 2004, was a resident of West Bengal.

Minutes later, militants re-surfaced at Batamaloo and fired on a policeman at point-blank range. The policeman, Mohammad Shafi Bhat, a resident of Tral village, was killed on the spot.

The twin attacks in Srinagar are the first major militant strike in Srinagar city this year.