Kashmir: 2 terrorists killed in DPS Srinagar encounter after 14-hour gun battle

The security forces in the Valley today killed the two terrorists hiding in a school on the outskirts of Srinagar after a 14-hour gun-battle. The encounter ensued soon after a CRPF convoy was ambushed on Saturday in Pantha Chowk by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants.

A CRPF sub-inspector martyred and a jawan was injured in the dastardly attack on the convoy close to the Srinagar-Jammu Highway on Saturday.

Two Army personnel also suffered injuries today in the gun-fight with militants holed up inside Delhi Public School (DPS) Srinagar.

Immediately after the ambush on the convoy, the security forces cordoned off the school premises which has seven buildings, comprising 36 rooms, and the staff and others were evacuated on Saturday night itself.

An offensive to flush out the Lashkar militants was launched today morning, a police official said.

"The exchange of fire between security forces and militants began at around 3.40 am," he said.

"The gun-battle is over and two militants have been killed," the official said after over 14-hour armed engagement.

SANITISATION OPERATION UNDERWAY

He said the search and sanitisation operation was, however, underway at the encounter site.

Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir's Director General of Police S P Vaid had said that there were reports of the presence of two militants inside the building but the exact number would be known after the search of the complex was over.

On the operation getting prolonged, he told reporters, "There are 36 rooms, the building is huge. So, it has to be searched floor by floor, room by room."

He said the security forces wanted to ensure that the (school) building was safe.

'NEFARIOUS DESIGNS TO DESTROY SCHOOLS'

"The enemy has a nefarious design that the school buildings are destroyed and children have nothing to study and ultimately abandon their studies, which we will ensure that no such thing happens," the state police chief said.

He was speaking to the media on the sidelines of wreath laying ceremony of CRPF officer killed in Saturday's attack.

The authorities had imposed restrictions under section 144 CrPc from Ram Munshibagh to Sempora stretch of the national highway as a precautionary measure to avoid protests near the encounter site.

The mobile internet services have been affected across the Valley as the network speeds have been reduced.

With inputs from PTI

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