Three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were injured after motorcycle-borne terrorists opened fire at a security checkpoint in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district on Wednesday afternoon, with CCTV footage capturing nearly 30 rounds of gunfire within 15 seconds.
The attack took place around 2.15 pm at Akhran, near Mir Bazar, when unidentified assailants approached the CRPF checkpoint on a motorcycle and opened fire at personnel deployed there before fleeing the spot.
Security camera footage that surfaced following the incident captured the sudden burst of gunfire. The attackers were not visible in the footage, but the rapid firing and security personnel at the checkpoint could be seen and heard.
The injured personnel were identified as Rakesh Dass, Santosh Chandru and Somveer Singh.
According to reports, Dass sustained a bullet injury to his left leg, Chandru suffered injuries to his abdomen and spine, while Singh was wounded in his left arm.
All three were shifted to a hospital in neighbouring Anantnag district for treatment.
Initial reports indicated that two personnel had been injured, but the number was subsequently revised to three.
๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฑ
Following the attack, security forces cordoned off the surrounding area and launched a search operation to locate the assailants.
Additional personnel were deployed in the locality, while barricades were erected at several points to restrict movement and facilitate security checks.
Armoured vehicles and reinforcements were seen near the attack site as security agencies intensified efforts to trace those responsible.
Loudspeaker announcements were also made asking local residents to remain indoors while the search operation continued.
The CRPF confirmed that unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants had targeted its personnel before escaping.
"The incident took place at around 2.15 pm when the assailants fired at the CRPF personnel before fleeing the spot," the force said in a statement.
๐๐๐ง๐ฉ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด
The CCTV footage highlighted the speed of the attack, with approximately 30 rounds being fired in a span of just 15 seconds.
The footage is expected to assist investigators in reconstructing the sequence of events and establishing the circumstances surrounding the firing.
The incident occurred while Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha was visiting Kulgam district, although he was not near the location of the attack.
Visuals from the hospital showed injured personnel being brought in on stretchers as medical teams attended to them.
Security agencies continued their search for the attackers, while further details about their identities and possible affiliations were awaited.
The attack has prompted heightened security measures in the surrounding area as investigators work to establish how the assailants approached the checkpoint and escaped after the firing.