A driver of a civilian vehicle informed the force about the presence of two suspicious individuals on the highway in Batote of Ramban district
Terrorists lobbed grenades at security forces in three separate incidents in Jammu’s Batote, Ganderabal district of Kashmir Valley, and in Srinagar’s Nawakadal area on Saturday.
In the Jammu incident reported from Batote district, three terrorists were killed and a civilian who had been taken hostage was rescued. The civilian who was held hostage has been identified as BJP worker Vijay Kumar Verma.
The Jammu incident was reported on Saturday morning when unidentified terrorists hurled grenades on an army team. “Reportedly a few terrorists are present in the market and have been cornered by security forces. The terrorists barged into the house of a civilian and have taken him as hostage,” a senior police official said..
The J&K police tweeted, “after a hot chase the terrorists entered the house of a civilian in Batote town which was immediately cordoned. Senior officers on spot supervising the operation.”
Grenade blast in Srinagar
Around 12.45 pm on Saturday, terrorists lobbed grenade on the troops of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) while they were out for duty in Nawakadal area of Srinagar. “Grenade blasted at a distance away from the troops. No loss or injury was reported,” a CRPF official said.
In a third incident, one terrorist was killed and “weapon and war-like stores” were recovered in Ganderabal district of Kashmir Valley by the army.
Severe restrictions including communication blockade were imposed in the Kashmir Valley since August 5 when Home Minister Amit Shah moved two Bills to revoke J&K’s special status under Article 370 and bifurcate and the downgrade the State into two Union Territories. The J&K administration enabled landline phone connections in the Valley but mobile phones and Internet remain suspended.
Security agencies had anticipated terror attacks ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Friday. National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval had camped in Srinagar ahead of the PM address in New York and asked security forces to resume operations.
