J&K: Two Dead, 12 Injured In Terrorist Attack On Police Bus. JeM's 'Kashmir Tigers' Claims Responsibility

The soldiers of the ninth battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police were traveling in this bus, sources said.

Terrorists fired upon a police vehicle near Zewan in the Pantha Chowk area of Srinagar. (ANI Photo)

New Delhi: Terrorists on Monday opened fire on a police bus near Zewan in the Pantha Chowk area of Srinagar. Kashmir Zone Police informed that 14 personnel were injured in the attack and later two succumbed to their injuries.

"Terrorists fired upon a police vehicle near Zewan in Pantha Chowk area of Srinagar. 14 personnel injured in the attack. All the injured personnel were evacuated to hospital. Area cordoned off. Further details shall follow," the Kashmir Zone Police wrote on Twitter.

#Terrorists fired upon a police vehicle near Zewan in Pantha Chowk area of #Srinagar. 14 personnel #injured in the attack. All the injured personnel evacuated to hospital. Area cordoned off. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice

— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) December 13, 2021

"Among the injured police personnel, 01 ASI  & a Selection Grade Constable succumbed to their injuries & attained martyrdom. Further details shall follow," the police informed in a tweet later.

#SrinagarTerrorAttack: Among the injured police personnel, 01 ASI & a Selection Grade Constable #succumbed to their injuries & attained #martyrdom. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice https://t.co/VPe0Pwoyfy

— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) December 13, 2021

As per news agency PTI, soldiers of the ninth battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police were traveling in this bus. The injured were evacuated to various hospitals where two of them died. 

The deceased have been identified as ASI Ghulam Hassan and SgCT Safique Ali.

Kashmir IG Vijay Kumar informed that the bus carrying 25 personnel was attacked by 2-3-three terrorists. "14 injured, of which 2 martyred, 12 out of danger. 1 terrorist who was shot managed to flee. JeM's Kashmir Tigers has claimed responsibility. We are monitoring the situation," he said, as reported by ANI.

The J&K Police stated that a case has been registered under relevant sections of law and officers continue to work to establish the circumstances which lead to this terror crime. 

PM Modi, J&K Lt Gov Manoj Sinha Condole Deaths

PM Narendra Modi has sought details on the terror attack. He has also expressed condolences to the families of the security personnel who have been martyred, the Prime Minister's Office informed in a tweet.

J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha strongly condemned the terrorist attack as he expressed condolences to the bereaved families.

"Strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack on J&K Police bus in Srinagar. My homage to our brave martyred police personnel. We are committed to ensure that perpetrators are punished. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families," he tweeted.

He directed the concerned authorities to provide the best possible treatment to the injured. "I pray for their speedy recovery. Our police and security forces are determined to neutralize the evil forces of terrorism," he wrote.

The incident can bring back memories of February 14, 2019, terror strike in Pulwama that killed 40 CRPF personnel. A CRPF bus was targeted by a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) suicide bomber who detonated his explosives-laden SUV near it on the Jammu-Srinagar highway in Pulwama. 

Soon after the Pulwama attack, the IAF had carried out an airstrike in Pakistan's Balakot on February 26 targeting terrorist camps.