Pampore encounter: Wreath laying ceremony for martyrs held

Srinagar, June 26

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh paid their tribute to eight Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, who had lost their lives in an encounter with Lashkar terrorists in Pampore, on Sunday, as a wreath laying ceremony was held for the martyrs.

Yesterday, Mufti condemned the militant attack, saying that such acts of violence were aimed at subverting the Government's efforts to bring peace and prosperity to the state.

"The only purpose of such blood-spattered acts of violence is to add to the tragedies and miseries of the people and subvert the Government's efforts aimed at bringing permanent peace and prosperity to Jammu and Kashmir," Mufti said in a statement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also offered his condolences saying that he was pained by the news.

"I salute the courage of the CRPF personnel martyred today in J&K. They served the nation with utmost dedication. Pained by their demise. My thoughts are with the families of those martyred today. May those injured recover soon," the Prime Minister said in a series of tweets.

Meanwhile, the senior officials of the Home Ministry and the Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are arriving in Srinagar today to take stock of the situation in Pampore.

The CRPF yesterday asserted that the two terrorists, who were neutralised in the gun-battle, appeared to be Pakistanis and were Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives.

In a fierce gun-battle that took place yesterday evening, 24 CRPF jawans were also injured.

The security personnel recovered arms and ammunition including 2 AK 47 Rifles, 11 hand grenades from the killed terrorists. — ANI