Terrorist strike in Srinagar city; policeman gunned down

Srinagar, Jan 6 (PTI) Terrorists on Wednesday struck at
the heart of Srinagar killing a policeman and injuring seven
others after taking hostage number of people in a run-down
hotel breaking almost two years of lull of militant violence
in the city.
Two men, believed to be Lashker-e-Taiba terrorists,
apparently planning to target a security establishment, lobbed
grenades and opened indiscriminate fire when they were caught
in a routine check near Pladdium chowk in Lal Chowk area.
The militants panicked, fired indiscriminately and rushed
towards a small eatery identified as "Punjab Hotel" on the
adjacent Court Road.
In the firing and lobbying of grenades by the militants,
police constable Mohammed Yusuf, who was driver of Station
House Officer of Maisuma, was killed while seven others
including a camera person of a New Delhi-based private TV news
channel were injured, they said.
Intermittent exchange of fire between the militants and
security forces was on as two militants were said to be holed
up inside the hotel. The police rescued nearly 100 people from
the adjoining area.
Though Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen claimed the responsibility
for the attack, Police said it was the handiwork of Lashker
terrorists only.
Director General of state Police Kuldeep Khoda told PTI
that the police had foiled a possible suicide-attack by the
Lashker militants.
The last major terror attack in the city took place on
October 11, 2007 at Dalgate area. PTI