Pampore encounter: Rajnath offers condolences to CRPF martyrs' kin

New Delhi: With eight Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel martyred and 24 injured in the major ambush by two terrorists in Pampore, Jammu and Kashmir today, Home Minister Rajnath Singh has offered his condolences to the kin of the martyred. "Deeply anguished to learn of the death of CRPF personnel in an ambush at Pampore in Jammu and Kashmir today. My heart goes out to the families of the CRPF men who lost their lives in Pampore. I also pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," Rajnath said in a series of tweets. Meanwhile, CRPF DG K Durga Prasad has briefed Rajnath on the incident and will be visiting Pampore tomorrow to take stock of the situation. The CRPF today asserted that the two terrorists, who have been neutralized in the gun-, appeared to be Pakistanis and were Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives. "According to the first hand info, both killed terrorists appeared to be Pakistanis and definitely from Lashkar and in all likelihood fidayeen," IG, CRPF operation Nalin Parbhat told ANI. In the fierce gun-battle that took place today evening, eight CRPF jawans were also martyred. Security personnel recovered arms and ammunition including 2 AK 47 Rifles, 11 hand grenades from the killed terrorists. "Our jawans were returning after practicing in the firing range when the attack happened. Our men returned fire with great bravery and it was during that time that Both the militants were neutralised. As of now we have lost five boys and around 20 are injured," CRPF commandant Rajesh Yadav told the media here. He added that all the injured and the bodies of the deceased have been moved to be 92 Base Hospital.