A young boy, believed to be a Class 10 student, issued an unsettling warning to CRPF personnel stationed at a checkpoint in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district two days before terrorists attacked the same post. The boy approached the checkpoint on Monday and told the personnel, "Hum tumhe chhodenge nahi" (We will not spare you). While the warning was initially dismissed, it has come under scrutiny following Wednesday's attack that left three jawans injured. Police are currently attempting to identify and trace the boy as they investigate whether his threat had any connection with the shooting incident.
On Wednesday, two armed terrorists approached the CRPF post near Mir Bazar in Kulgam district around 2:15 pm, opening fire and injuring three personnel, one of them critically. The checkpoint is located approximately 75 km from Srinagar and close to the strategic Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Security agencies suspect the involvement of Mohammed Lateef Bhat, a local commander of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit, in the attack. However, ground verification during joint search operations by the Army and other security agencies has established that no two-wheeler was involved.
The area where the attack took place has dense vegetation resembling a small forest, which the terrorists used as cover before and after the attack. A Motorola mobile phone and a SIM card have been recovered from the scene. CCTV footage from nearby commercial establishments is being scanned to reconstruct the movement of the attackers. The three injured personnel were rushed to a hospital in neighboring Anantnag district, around 22 km from the attack site.
Despite being caught by surprise and sustaining injuries, all three CRPF personnel retaliated and chased the attackers, preventing them from inflicting larger-scale casualties and damage. Security forces have cordoned off the region and launched a massive search operation to track down the attackers. Additional barricades have been erected, armored vehicles deployed, and announcements made over loudspeakers asking residents to remain indoors.
This attack reflects growing frustration among terror outfits operating in the region, which are finding it increasingly difficult to strike due to heightened alertness and area domination by security forces. The attack has sparked political reactions, with former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah questioning the administration's claims of normalcy in the Union Territory. The National Conference president called on the Lieutenant Governor-led administration, which is responsible for law and order, to be held accountable for recurring incidents of violence despite official claims that terrorism had been eradicated. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the attack and wished the injured personnel a speedy recovery.