JAMMU: The Army was called out and a curfew reimposed in downtown and interior Srinagar on Sunday after militants engaged the security forces in a 12hour gun battle which set ablaze more than 200 houses.
Twelve persons, including 2 security force jawans, were killed while a deputy inspector general of police escaped an attempt on his life in Kashmir valley during the past 24 hours. (Over the week 83 persons were killed),
The daylong encounter between militants and the security forces led to fires in 6 localities in Srinagar and at least 6 persons, including 2 security force jawans, were killed and a fireman was reported missing,
About 700 to 100 militants were involved in the attack, which resulted in some civilian casualties and left 7 to 8 security personnel injured. People were being evacuated from the buildings on fire, he added.
The spokesman said army help was sought by the state govt in at least 6 places to contain the firing so that the fires could be put out. Sniping by militants prevented fire tenders from reaching the expected spots, he said.
The police spokesman in Srinagar said about 50 houses were destroyed in the fires.
He said the gun battle followed firing by militants on security forces who were making a search for arms and ammunition.
Commandant of the CRPF was critically injured in the firing at Kandwara Chowk.
The spokesman said the fires were set off in some houses when militants hurled handgreandes at the security forces.
He said a security jawan was injured when some militants ambushed a patrol party in the same area.
The Army was called out to assist the civil authorities after the situation went out of control. Besides that of the security jawan, 4 bodies 3 charred and 1 bullet riddled were found in the downtown city.
The police sources said militants ambushed the vehicle of DIG of police (Kashmir range) Azhar Alam at Idgah in downtown Srinagar, injuring 2 of his body guards,
The security forces apprehended7 militants and recovered some arms and ammunition from them, SLF the security forces found 2 bodies, identified as that of Pandit Jagannath and Pandit Zind Lal of Bhagat pura at Handwara.
Militants killed Ghulam MohudDin in Kupwara early on Sunday.
The chief commander of the outlawed Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (SKLF) Javed Mir claiming responsibility for attacks on security men in downtown areas and said activists of 5 militant outfits took part in Sunday’s actions,
Meanwhile, the indefinite straike by the state govt employees continued on the 23rd day.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 12, 1990
