2 jawans killed in twin militant attacks near J-K Assembly

Srinagar, Aug 31 (PTI) Two Central Reserve Police
Force (CRPF) personnel were shot dead and 25 people injured
Monday in twin-attacks by militants in a high-security area in
the heart of the city, barely half a kilometre from Jammu and
Kashmir (India's northernmost state) Assembly complex.

Armed with guns and grenades, the militants struck
almost simultaneously in crowded Lal Chowk and Batmaloo areas
at around 1 PM IST when the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly went
for a recess after completing the morning session, officials
said.

Two CRPF jawans identified as Raj Shekhar and Malik
Arjun of the 28th battalion were fatally shot in the head from
point blank range by militants outside a bank at Lal Chowk,
sparking panic in the city.

While authorities were busy restoring order in Lal
Chowk, militants within no time struck a kilometre away at
Batmaloo, hurling a grenade at a moving CRPF vehicle outside
Fire and Emergency Services headquarters. 25 persons including
five security personnel were injured in the explosion.

The injured were rushed to nearby SMHS Hospital where
condition of two of the civilians was stated to be "critical".

Jamiat-Ul-Mujahideen (JUM) claimed responsibility for
the Lal Chowk attack.

"Our activists carried out the attack in Lal Chowk," a
caller claiming to be a spokesman of JUM said. He, however,
claimed that they were not involved in Batmaloo strike.

The two attacks came at a time when security has been
beefed up in the area in view of the ongoing session of the
Assembly. A double-strike by militants in the area on August 1
had left two security personnel dead. PTI