Two militants killed, hotel building catches fire

The operation launched by police and paramilitary CRPF to neutralise the militants in Hotel Panjab in Lal Chowk which was suspended at around 11 p.m on Wednesday was resumed at 0700 hours on Thursday, officials said.

As the police moved ahead to take on two fidayeen held up in Hotel Punjab in Lal Chowk, they have succeeded in gunning down one of them, sources confirmed. They are continuing to engage other one and the hotel building caught fire and is in flames. Fire tenders have also rushed to control the fire.

Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) began the final assault to clear the Punjab Hotel building in Lal Chowk city centre of the two militants held up there since Wednesday afternoon. Toll goes upto 2 as one injured succumbs in hospital.

Even amidst intermittent firing, the operation was suspended during night though the police and CRPF did not loose the cordon to prevent any attempt by militants to escape.

Sources said that the exchange of fire between militants and security forces resumed early morning and the forces are inching towards them. “Yes we have begun the final assault and the gunfight is in final stage” Inspector General of Police Kashmir zone Farooq Ahmad told . He said that two militants are held up inside the building, which they took over on Wednesday after attacking a police party. “We are moving ahead but cannot give exact details for security reasons” he said. Mr Farooq is himself supervising the operation.

However, he maintained that there was no civilian presence in the area where militants have taken positions. “We have evacuated all the civilians and that was our priority” he said. Both militants are heavily armed and the police is also waiting for their ammunition to get exhausted.

Life in entire Lal Chowk has come to a standstill after the attack. Shops are closed and entire area is sealed. People in the neighborhood are confined to their houses. The suicide attack in Lal Chowk came after two years.

Jamiatul Mujahideen and Harkatul Mujahideen, both pro Pakistan militant outfits have owned the responsibility of the attack which left one policeman dead and nine others injured.