Security forces resumed the hunt for the gunmen who attacked a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) checkpoint in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Thursday morning, as a cordon and search operation in the area entered its second day. Investigators suspect a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative was behind the attack, which left three CRPF personnel injured.

The attack took place at around 2.15 pm on Wednesday at Akhran near Mir Bazar, about 75 km from Srinagar. Gunmen opened fire at personnel deployed at the checkpoint and fled. CCTV footage from the area reportedly shows around 30 rounds being fired within 15 seconds.

The injured personnel have been identified as Head Constable Somveer Singh and Constables Rakesh Dass and Santosh Chandru. Singh, from Madhya Pradesh, was injured in the arm, Dass, from Assam, took a bullet to the leg, and Chandru, from West Bengal, suffered abdominal and spinal injuries and is in a serious condition. All three were first taken to the Government Medical College in Anantnag; Chandru was later shifted to the Army’s 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar.

01. Key takeaways

  • Three CRPF personnel were injured when gunmen fired at a checkpoint at Akhran near Mir Bazar in Kulgam on Wednesday afternoon.
  • Security agencies suspect LeT terrorist Mohammad Lateef Bhat was behind the attack, though this has not been officially confirmed.
  • A massive search operation resumed on Thursday morning, with forces checking across Kulgam and questioning suspected overground workers.
  • Investigators recovered a mobile phone and a SIM card from the site, and a forensic team has examined the area.
  • A little-known group, Pasdaran-e-Hurriyat, has claimed responsibility; agencies are checking whether the claim is genuine.

02. What happens next

Security forces have sealed off the area and stepped up checks at multiple points in the district. Officials said at least three terrorists were involved in the attack and that two of them are believed to be foreign nationals. Police are also trying to identify a boy, believed to be a Class 10 student, who allegedly threatened CRPF personnel at the same checkpoint two days before the attack — though no link between the boy and the attackers has been established.

The attack was the third terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir since July and the second targeting security personnel. It came on a day when Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha was in Kulgam to inaugurate a festival. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary condemned the attack and wished the injured personnel a speedy recovery.

It also comes a day after the bodies of two missing Special Police Officers were recovered in Kishtwar district — read our report: Two Missing Special Police Officers Found Shot Dead in J&K’s Kishtwar, Service Weapons Missing.

03. Frequently asked questions

What happened in Kulgam?
Gunmen opened fire at a CRPF checkpoint at Akhran near Mir Bazar in Kulgam district at around 2.15 pm on Wednesday, injuring three personnel before fleeing.

Who is suspected to be behind the attack?
Security agencies suspect Lashkar-e-Taiba operative Mohammad Lateef Bhat, but his involvement has not been officially confirmed and the identities of the attackers are still being verified.

What is the condition of the injured jawans?
Two of the injured personnel are stable. The third, Constable Santosh Chandru, suffered abdominal and spinal injuries and is in a serious condition.