Militants on Thursday evening shot dead two Central Reserve Police Force personnel even as security had been tightened in Kashmir Valley on arrival of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.
Hizbul Mujahideen and Ashuhada Brigade outfits have claimed responsibility for the attack. According to reports, militants ambushed a column of CRPF 130-battalion personnel at Srinagar-Jammu National Highway near Awantipora in south Kashmir, 30 kilometres from here around 6 pm. The CRPF personnel were returning to their camp after remaining deployed for the entire day in the backdrop of Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the area.
Gandhi inaugurated a horticulture processing plant at lassipora in Pulwama on Thursday morning. Two CRPF personnel Naresh Kumar and Mahesh Kumar died in the attack.
After the incident police swung into action and cordoned off the area and started the massive hunt for the attackers. Hizbul Mujahideen operation spokesman Baliguddin claimed responsibility for the attack. Ashuhada Brigade spokesman Samiul-Haq also told a local news agency that their cadre executed the attack.