One person was killed and three injured while unidentified militants opened fire at an army convoy on national highway 1A at Nowgam in Srinagar today evening.
The army, paramilitary and police personnel immediately cordoned off the area near Hotel The Silver Star as per the standard operating procedure to nab the terrorists who are reportedly three in number.
Initially, it was neither clear who the target of the terrorists were nor were the identity of the militants could be established.
In search of militants. Reuters
“One bellboy of the hotel died while three others were critically injured,” said Jammu and Kashmir Police, DIG, Central Kashmir Range, Syed Ahafadul Mujtaba.
Preliminary reports suggest that the militants were armed with AK-47 assault rifles and reportedly fired at an army convoy which was passing by. However, army sources said none of the personnel were injured.
The security forces are carrying out a room-to-room search at the hotel to ensure that no militants are holed up. As this copy is being written, the forces have not made any contact with the militants.
The hotel is located near the Srinagar airport and is often occupied by state guests.
The daring attack raised eyebrows as a Central Reserve Police Force picket is permanently stationed in the vicinity and army convoys often frequent the area.
With darkness engulfing, there is a fear that the militants might have receded to the thick treeline in the vicinity of the hotel.
