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Commandos storm SGO hq in Srinagar, 10 killed in operation

Mukhtar Ahmad In Srinagar

Army commandos and paramilitary troops late this evening stormed the complex of the Special Operations Group at Haftchinar and shot dead three militants holed up inside the building.

The commandos also rescued 50 jawans of the SOG who were taken hostage by the militants late yesterday. The police said in all, seven SOG and CRPF jawans and three militants were killed in the 24-hour long gun battle. The state police chief, Gurbachan Jagat, who airdashed to Srinagar this afternoon personally supervised the massive operation.

A senior police official who returned from the spot told rediff.com that army commandos entered the complex building which was till then subjected to repeated mortar shelling by the troops. In the shelling a major portion of the building was damaged extensively.

It was during this period, the officer said, that the militants were shot dead. However, the state police lost scores of its own automatic weapons and those captured by the SOG during the last few years. "The armoury was completely gutted," said the officer.

The officer, on condition of anonymity, said late yesterday three militants wearing police uniforms and carrying AK-47 rifles approached the CRPF sentry on duty at the main gate and told him that they were from the police and wanted to meet someone inside. When the sentry tried to stop them one of the militants opened fire. It was followed by scores of explosions all over the complex.

A CRPF guard and six SOG members died while 17 others including 15 SOG men received injuries in the exchange of fire. The militants later forced their entry into the main complex building and sprayed bullets all around, killing and injuring the SOG men. They fired on the Deputy Police Superintendent Gansham and the armoury in-charge inside the SOG camp. Both received series injuries and their bodies were recovered today. They had succumbed to their injuries inside the building.

The militants also took 50 jawans hostage inside the complex and they were rescued by the security forces this afternoon when the building was stormed. After the rescue attempt the troops used mortars, resulting in extensive damage to a portion of the building.

Throughout the night sounds of explosions and automatic weapons fire rocked the city. Many residents in adjoining areas of Haftchinar spent a sleepless night. Sources said the troops were still engaged in search operations inside the complex and they have recovered bodies of all the three militants.. High tension has gripped the city following the attack on the SOG headquarters.

Police sources admit the attack was a serious setback to the government's effort to restore peace and normalcy in Kashmir. After the installation of the National Conference government in the state there has been a surge in the anti-insurgency campaign in Kashmir, especially Srinagar city. Sources said the state police chief had ordered massive security beef-up around the various high security areas following the attacks on the various camps and the civil secretariat in Srinagar.

The Harkat-ul Ansar has claimed responsibility for the attack.

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