Unidentified attackers fired on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) checkpoint in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.
Three personnel were injured.
The attack happened near Mir Bazaar around 2:15 pm. Kulgam is a district in south Kashmir.
The attackers came on motorcycles, fired, and fled.
Key points
- Three CRPF personnel were injured in an attack on a checkpoint in Kulgam district.
- The attack took place on Wednesday around 2:15 pm near Mir Bazaar.
- It is the third attack in Kashmir in five months, and the second on security forces.
- A search operation is underway, and an investigation is trying to identify the attackers.
What happened after the firing?
The injured were taken to a hospital in Anantnag district. Reports differ on how serious one injury is.
One report says a man is in critical condition, while another says he is out of danger.
Security forces sealed off the area right away. They sent reinforcements and armoured vehicles to the site.
They also set up extra checkpoints.
Residents were told through loudspeaker notices to stay indoors.
Officials said Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha was visiting Kulgam that day, but he was not near the site.
Is this part of a larger pattern?
Yes, reports say this is the third attack in the region in five months. It is also the second aimed at security forces.
On July 22, head constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi was shot dead at Lal Chowk in Anantnag town.
He belonged to the 3rd Battalion of the India Reserve (IR) Police.
On July 31, attackers fired on workers at a brick-kiln in Kilam village of Kulgam district.
A labourer from Chhattisgarh was killed, and another worker was seriously injured.
- July 22Head constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi shot dead at Lal Chowk in Anantnag town.
- July 31Attackers fired on brick-kiln workers in Kilam village; one labourer from Chhattisgarh killed.
- WednesdayAttackers fired on a CRPF checkpoint near Mir Bazaar in Kulgam; three personnel injured.
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
Who is suspected, and what happens next?
Sources say security agencies suspect Lashkar-e-Taiba or its affiliate, The Resistance Front (TRF).
However, no organisation has been officially confirmed as behind the attack.
An investigation is underway to identify the attackers and trace their network.
The search operation for the attackers is also continuing.
Explainer
What happened before
- On July 22, a head constable was shot dead by attackers at Lal Chowk in Anantnag town.
- On July 31, attackers fired on brick-kiln workers in Kilam village of Kulgam district, killing a labourer from Chhattisgarh.
Why it matters
Attacks on security forces and civilians in Kashmir affect the safety of both personnel and local residents, who were asked to stay indoors.
What to watch next
- Security forces are searching for the attackers, and an investigation is underway to identify them and trace their network.
