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Militants attack Army patrol in Valley; one jawan killed
Ehsan Fazili/TNS

Blood stains at the spot in Pampore where one soldier was killed by militants. Tribune photo: Amin War

Srinagar, July 7
A jawan was killed and another critically injured when suspected militants today opened fired on an Army patrol at Pampore, around 15 km from here on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway.

“The two jawans of 50 Rashtriya Rifles were attacked around 3 pm at Kadlabal market,” Vijay Kumar, DIG, South Kashmir Range, told The Tribune.

Lt Gen Om Prakash, GOC Chinar Corps, said a group of soldiers were securing the NH-44. On finding a suspiciously parked autorickshaw and scooter, two soldiers approached these vehicles. The militants who were inside a shop nearby open fire on them from a very close range. The injured were immediately shifted to sub-district hospital at Pampore, where Sepoy Deepak Singh succumbed to injuries.

Fifth attack in three weeks July 7 Militants attack Army patrol, kill jawan July 3 Militants kill two policemen from point-blank range in separate attacks in Pulwama and Kulgam districts June 28 Two grenades lobbed at an Army camp in Srinagar June 19 Militants attack a post in Handwara in north Kashmir, kill jawan June 15 NC block president shot dead in Srinagar

The other injured, Trilok Nath, was shifted to 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar for treatment and his condition is stated to be critical. The militants also snatched a rifle from one of the jawans.

The militants fled immediately after firing sparking off panic in the town. The incident took place at a time when there was a heavy rush of vehicles carrying Amarnath pilgrims. The troops did not retaliate immediately in view of the heavy traffic, the DIG said. Manhunt has been launched to nab the culprits.

No militant organisation has so far claimed responsibility for the attack. On July 3, militants had shot dead two policemen from point-blank range in separate attacks in Pulwama and Kulgam districts. Adequate security arrangements were in place in view of the heavy flow of tourists and pilgrims to Kashmir, said the police.

Northern Army chief, Guv discuss security

Lt Gen KT Parnaik, Northern Army Commander, called on Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra at the Raj Bhawan on Saturday. Parnaik briefed the Governor on security arrangements, especially in the wake of the Amarnath Yatra and other recent incidents of violence in the state.