Kulgam Attack: Three CRPF personnel injured just 15 Km from LG Manoj Sinha's venue; Security under scanner

Terrorists struck a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) party in south Kashmir's Kulgam district on Wednesday afternoon, barely 15 km from the venue where Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha was attending an official function. The attack has raised questions over security arrangements during the VVIP visit, as three CRPF personnel were injured in the firing.

The incident took place at Akhran, near Mir Bazar, when two motorcycle-borne assailants, reportedly armed with AK-47 rifles, opened fire on a CRPF surprise checkpoint. The checkpoint had been established as part of the security arrangements for the Lieutenant Governor's visit to the district.

The attackers fled immediately after the firing, triggering a massive security operation across Kulgam and adjoining areas of south Kashmir.

Despite heightened security arrangements and the deployment of additional forces for the VVIP movement, the assailants managed to reach the area, target the CRPF personnel and escape. Security agencies are now examining how the attackers managed to carry out the strike, whether they had conducted prior reconnaissance and if they received any local assistance.

Sources in security agencies believe the attackers may have deliberately chosen an area witnessing VVIP movement to demonstrate their presence and operational capability at a time when security forces have intensified their crackdown on terrorist support networks across Kashmir.

Over the past few months, security agencies have arrested dozens of alleged Over Ground Workers (OGWs), busted several suspected sleeper-cell modules and dismantled at least eight terrorist hideouts. Large quantities of arms, ammunition and other incriminating material have also been recovered during these operations.

Sources said the intensified crackdown had put considerable pressure on terror handlers operating from across the border and their local networks. Active terrorists and OGWs were allegedly being pushed to carry out attacks to demonstrate their presence. However, investigators are yet to establish whether Wednesday's Kulgam attack was linked to any such direction.

LeT Terrorist Mohammad Latif Bhat Under Scanner

Meanwhile, security sources suspect that the attack may have been carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Mohammad Latif Bhat, a wanted local terrorist active in south Kashmir.

According to the sources, the modus operandi adopted in Wednesday's attack bears similarities to previous strikes allegedly carried out by Bhat.

Bhat was reportedly associated with the LeT's overground network in south Kashmir for nearly five years before joining its active ranks. He came under the security agencies' radar following the killing of a Jammu and Kashmir Police Assistant Sub-Inspector during the Amarnath Yatra period at Lal Chowk in Anantnag.

Sources further suspect that Bhat may have been accompanied by a Pakistani terrorist during Wednesday's attack. However, these inputs are still being investigated, and the identities of the attackers have not been officially established. No terrorist organisation had claimed responsibility for the attack at the time of filing this report.

30 Rounds Fired In 15 Seconds

According to officials, the attack took place at approximately 2.15 pm when two motorcycle-borne assailants targeted CRPF personnel deployed at a surprise checkpoint near Akhran.

The attackers reportedly fired nearly 30 rounds in approximately 15 seconds. Security camera footage is said to have captured the incident.

Security agencies and forensic teams are examining CCTV footage and other evidence collected from the area to establish the sequence of events, identify the attackers and trace their escape route.

Two ground-level walk-throughs were also conducted from the actual site of the attack to document the location and the security response.

Three CRPF Personnel Injured, One Shifted To Srinagar

In a statement, the CRPF confirmed that three of its personnel were injured in the attack. The injured jawans were initially shifted to a hospital in Anantnag for treatment. One of them was subsequently referred to the Army Base Hospital in Srinagar for advanced medical care.

Officials said the condition of all three personnel was stable.

Immediately after the attack, security forces cordoned off Akhran and adjoining localities and launched a large-scale cordon-and-search operation involving the Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF, BSF and Army.

Senior officers from the police, CRPF and Army also reached the spot to assess the situation and supervise the operation.

Additional security deployments have been made at sensitive locations, while checking has been intensified along major roads and vulnerable routes in south Kashmir.

Investigators are working to establish the number of terrorists involved, their possible escape route and whether they had access to any local support network.

Security agencies are also examining whether the attackers had prior knowledge of the CRPF party's deployment pattern and the security arrangements linked to the Lieutenant Governor's visit.

The attack has put security agencies on heightened alert across Kulgam and neighbouring districts, with the search operation continuing to track down the assailants.