Militants attacked a CRPF convoy at Pampore on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway on Saturday, killing two jawans and injuring 10 others before sneaking into a nearby government building, triggering a stand off.
A possible hostage situation was avoided when CRPF and local police managed to evacuate civilians who were holed up inside the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) building located at Pampore, in the outskirts of Srinagar city.
"We have been successful in evacuating the civilians from the building," Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police K. Rajendra said.
One of those evacuated claimed that they were asked by militants to leave because they did not mean any harm to civilians.
2 dead, 11 injured in an encounter between unidentified gunmen and CRPF personnel in Pampore, Jammu & Kashmir https://t.co/ZirTPjgyI2
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Personnel of the Army, whose elite 15 Corps headquarters is located barely 10 kilometres from the encounter site, were rushed to the encounter site to assist the local police and the CRPF.
There were three-five militants, according to eyewitnesses.
Before storming the EDI campus, militants opened fired at a CRPF convoy on Srinagar-Jammu road just outside the campus, officials said, adding, two para-military personnel lost their lives while another 10 were injured. Among those injured includes a civilian whose condition is reported to be critical.
Intermittent exchange of fire has been reported from the spot and the security personnel were ensuring a proper cordon and lighting arrangement at the encounter site to prevent the militants from escaping.
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