Police Identify terrorist behind Banihal Attack

Srinagar: Police and army have launched a search operation in upper reaches of Banihal following last night’s firing incident in which a paramilitary Sashastra Seema Bal trooper was killed and another injured.

An official said that three Banihal youth missing from their homes since yesterday afternoon carried out the attack on SSB party near Jawahar tunnel last night.

“Two youth belong to Kaskoot while the third one hails from Ashar village,” said the official.

He said that a mobile phone belonging to one of the youth was recovered from a bag lying half a kilometre away from the site of the attack.

“An FIR has been lodged against the assailants and a search operation launched to nab them,” he said.

In a statement, the SSB said that at about 1915 hours, unknown militant fired upon SSB troopers near Jawahar tunnel in Banihal.

“The SSB party was returning from tunnel security duty. In this incident 01 HC killed and 01 ASI got injured and shifted to Srinagar hospital.”

The militants also snatched an INSAS Rifle and AR-41 Rifle from them," claimed the SSB.

Police had earlier dubbed the incident as a case of “fratricide”.