Pampore: Forces enter building, 2 terrorists killed

A gunfight ensued after three terrorists attacked a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) bus on the Jammu-Srinagar highway.

After the CRPF began retaliating, the terrorists entered the premises of the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI), where about 100 people were undergoing a training programme.

Security forces surrounded the building and focused on safe evacuation of the civilians while engaging the holed-up terrorists.

The institute is situated on the national highway connecting Jammu and Srinagar, and houses a guest house, a hostel complex and the main office building.

The stretch of road that the building is situated near is the only link to the 15 Corps Headquarters, the nerve-centre of the army's anti-militancy operations.

Nearly 100 individuals are employed in the main office building of the institute.

Three CRPF troopers and a civilian were killed in a gunfight between terrorists and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwara district.

A captain of the Indian army was also killed in the encounter.

The attack took place along the the Jammu-Srinagar highway near Pampore town in Pulwama district.

All civilians have been evacuated from the area and security forces have engaged the attackers.

The 48-hour gunbattle in Pampore came to an end as the three militants who stormed the building were killed by security forces.

Two officers of the rank of captain and a Lance Naik from the elite Para force of the Army were killed while trying to flush out the militants.

"The process of sanitizing the building is underway," said CO Major General Arvind Dutta.

There is an ongoing terrorist-attack at Entrepreneurship Development Institute, Pampore, 15 kms from Srinagar.

Reportedly, 2-3 terrorists entered the building in the morning through boats on the Jhelum river, which flows in Pakistan.

The gunshots and explosions were heard; one army-soldier has been reportedly injured.

Notably, a 48-hour long encounter between terrorists and security forces had taken place in the same building in Feb'16.

Terrorists have been holed up for almost 24 hours inside Entrepreneurship Development Institute that provides vocational training to Kashmiri youth, in the Pampore district of Kashmir.

Officials said the terrorists appeared to be well stocked with ammunition, and have ceased fire in an attempt to lure forces into the building.

The army's special forces as well as police counter-insurgency teams have surrounded the building.

2 terrorists have been killed in the encounter at the Entrepreneurship Development Institute in Pampore and security forces have entered the building.

Sources stated that the search for the third terrorist is reportedly over and forces are sweeping the building, clearing unexploded bombs and ordinance.

The army is yet to confirm whether the operation is officially over yet.