Three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans were shot dead by unidentified men at a crowded bus-stand in Sopore in north Kashmir on Tuesday evening. The jawans belonging to CRPF’s 179 battalion were fired at from close range by attackers, who managed to snatch two AK rifles and flee. A female bystander and two others were injured.

Militant outfit Al-Badr has claimed responsibility for the attack, coming hours after Jammu and Kashmir DGP Kuldeep Khoda visited nearby Baramulla as part of a review of the security scenario in north Kashmir.

“The three jawans were killed when militants opened fire on a CRPF party that was on duty near the general bus stand,” CRPF spokesman Prabkar Tripathi said. “All the three men received head injuries.” They died on their way to hospital.

The jawans, who eyewitnesses said were shopping for vegetables, have been identified as Head Constable Desh Raj, and Constables Ramesh Kumar and D Pratap.

Announcing a massive manhunt for the unknown assailants, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Range, Farooq Ahmad said the area around the bus-stand had been cordoned off.

The woman bystander and another person hurt in the attack have been shifted to Srinagar for treatment.

Soon after the attack, shopkeepers downed their shutters, and for a while the town wore a deserted look.