The National Investigation Agency (NIA) team visited the site of Wednesday’s attack on a CRPF checkpoint near Mir Bazar in Kulgam district on Thursday even as preliminary investigations indicated that at least three terrorists, two of them believed to be foreign nationals, were involved in the strike.
“A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team on Thursday visited the site of the terror attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) checkpoint in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district," a senior police officer said.
The team inspected the spot to gather forensic evidence and examine the circumstances surrounding the attack, in which three CRPF personnel were injured.
The samples collected from the scene are expected to assist investigators in establishing the sequence of events and identifying those involved in the attack.Security forces have continued search operations in the area to trace the attackers.
“The preliminary investigation reveals that at least three terrorists were involved in the attack. Two of them seem to be foreign nationals,” said senior police officer. “We are reviewing the CCTV footage from the area to get a clear picture. There is a marshy patch in the area and the terrorists escaped using the cover of the trees and bushes.”
Officials said the attackers approached the checkpoint on foot from the marshy area about 50 metres away.
After opening fire with AK-47 rifles, they fled on foot through the same tree line.
The attack took place barely 2 km from the heavily guarded Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.
The CRPF had earlier stated that the incident occurred around 2:15 pm when the assailants fired at its personnel of the 46th Battalion, deployed as a bridge guard, before fleeing the spot.
The three injured CRPF personnel — Head Constable Somveer Singh (Madhya Pradesh), Constable RakeshDass (Assam) and Constable Santosh Chandru (West Bengal) - were first rushed to Government Medical College, Anantnag, and later shifted to the Army’s 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar
One sustained bullet wounds to the abdomen and spine and underwent surgery; the other two received injuries to the arm and leg.
Two of the injured have since been discharged after treatment, while the critically injured jawan continues to receive advanced care.
