Two soldiers killed in drive-by shooting on Srinagar's outskirts

Srinagar: Barely 48 hours ahead of the start of DDC polls in Jammu and Kashmir, two soldiers were killed in a terror attack in broad daylight just outside Srinagar on Thursday, officials said.

Terrorists in a car fired indiscriminately on an army patrol at Shariefabad on the Srinagar-Baramulla Highway, critically injuring the two soldiers who later succumbed.

The attack came on the 12th anniversary of Mumbai 26/11 attack.

Jammu and Kashmir Police's Special Operations Group (SOG) and CRPF Valley Quick Action team (QAT) rushed to the spot to cordon off the area and nab the attackers.

The Army, in a statement, said terrorists fired indiscriminately at its Quick Reaction Team (QRT) in which two soldiers were killed but troops maintained restraint to avoid collateral damage.

"Terrorists fired indiscriminately at Quick Reaction Team of Indian Army in general area Aban Shah Chowk, HMT, Khushipora, Srinagar today afternoon. Being a crowded area, troops exercised restraint to avoid any civilian casualties and collateral damage.

"Two soldiers were critically injured and were evacuated to the nearest medical facility. However, they have succumbed to their injuries. Area has been cordoned and search operation is in progress."

Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Range, Vijay Kumar said that three terrorists travelling in a Maruti car carried out the attack on army patrol.

He said two of them could be Pakistani terrorists and one local terrorist.

"Three terrorists were travelling in a Maruti car. Two of them were carrying weapons, two of them could be Pakistani terrorists and one local terrorist," he told reporters.

The IGP said there is movement of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists in the area and by evening, the terror outfit responsible will be identified.

"We will identify the terror outfit responsible for the attack by evening," he said.

Security forces have been getting inputs that terrorists have been planning attacks to disrupt the District Development Council (DDC) elections.

On November 19, four terrorists travelling in a truck have been killed on during an encounter on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Nagrota in Jammu region.

The four Jaish terrorists had infiltrated into India through the international border in Samba, and were travelling in a truck which was intercepted by security forces at a toll plaza near Nagrota.