2 army men killed in Qazigund attack

Qazigund/June,3: Two soldiers were killed and four others were injured when militants attacked an Army convoy bound to Srinagar from Jammu near Qazigund in South Kashmir.
Militants according to police sources struck near Lower Munda toll post on Saturday afternoon.
Eyewitnesses said that an army convoy was on its way towards Srinagar while militants who had laid an ambush near Lower Munda Toll Post resorted to indiscriminate firing. Sources added that militants targeted army vehicles while the gun shots created panic in the area.
Reports said that shortly after the attack, militants managed to escape from the spot. A police official said that at least six soldiers were wounded while two of them later succumbed to their injuries. “The four wounded soldiers have been shifted to army hospital,” said a police official identifying the two slain soldiers as Constable Manipanan and Naik D.Matey.
The four wounded soldiers have been identified as Shiv Kumar, Srinivasan, Subhash Prakash and Ved Prakash.
Government forces according to eyewitnesses closed Jammu-Srinagar highway for traffic after the attack. A cordon and search operation has been launched to flush out the militants.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti has paid rich tributes to the two slain army men.
The Chief Minister extended her heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of slain soldiers. She also conveyed her sympathies to the soldiers who were injured in the incident.
Mehbooba Mufti said that it was unfortunate that an unending cycle of violence has got unleashed in our society which only spreads miseries and desperation.
Meanwhile militant outfit Hizbul Mujhadeen Saturday claimed the responsibility of Highway attack near Lower Munda toll post in South Kashmir saying that at least four Indian soldiers were killed in the daring attack.
Hizb Operational Spokesperson, Burhanuddin told local news gathering agency CNS over phone that the attack was carried out by a special squad of the outfit. “Our sources informed us that at least four Indian soldiers have been killed while seven suffered injuries. Field Operational Commander Mehmood Ghaznavi has decided to present a cash reward to the brave militants who were part of the squad,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson reiterated that such attacks will continue to take place in the length and breadth of Valley.
Pertinently, two soldiers Constable Manipanam and Naik D.Matey were killed while four others were wounded when militants attacked an army convoy near Lower Munda toll post in Qazigund Anantnag.
Another militant outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba Saturday said that it will reward those militants who carried out a successful operation against Indian Army at Lower Munda Qazigund area of South Kashmir.
While hailing the role of these militants, LeT Chief Mehmood Shah in a statement to local news gathering agency CNS said that the real reward lies with Almighty Allah. “The operation was carried out in response to the remarks made by Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat wherein he said that it would have been better if people in Kashmir use weapons than stones. Now we responded with weapons but the army chose to escape from the spot,” he said.