Srinagar: A policeman trapped in the crossfire between militants, holding three
police officials hostage, and security forces in a residential area of here came out
on September 23 night amidst intermittent gunfire, official sources said.
The policeman identified as constable Bashir Ahmad escaped unhurt and was
subsequently rescued by security forces besieging the house where militants were
holding deputy superintendent of police Mohammad Yousuf, inspector Bhagwant Singh
and a wireless operator at gun-point, the sources said.
They said Bashir was not among the hostages and was trapped outside the building.
Police, Border Security Force (BSF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) made
several attempts to storm the house and rescue the hostage. However, the efforts
were scuttled by heavy firing by militants, the sources said.
Security forces are exercising restraint to ensure safety of the hostages, the
sources said, adding it is believed that four militants, possibly belonging to
Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit, were involved in the incident.
PTI
