JKEDI Siege
The JKEDI Siege was a terrorist attack that took place on 20 February 2015 around 4:30 PM. It took place at Jammu & Kashmir Entrepreneurs Development Institute, Pampore on the outskirts of Srinagar in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The siege continued for more than 48 hours.
Attack
Around 4:30 PM, three terrorists belonging to LeT attacked a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy leaving 11 CRPF personnel injured on the highway near Sempora, where the JKEDI building is situated.
After attacking the convoy, they took shelter in the buildin.After the rescue of the employees, joint teams of CRPF, Army & JKP cordoned the building. While fighting with the militants, Rakesh Raman, Assistant Commandant, CRPF received multiple burst of greade explosion and critically injured. He was Immediately admitted to the 92 base hospital. The encounter lasted for about 48 hours, resulting in the deaths of all three terrorists, three army soldiers of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps, and a civilian. A JKEDI gardener was killed during the exchange of fire.[1][2]
According to an army officer, the terror group targeted the JKEDI establishment as the building was tall and made of concrete which gave a strategic advantage to the terrorists.[3] The road on which the institute lies connects the capital Srinagar with South Kashmir. This road is not only a local lifeline, but is also the only all-weather road link used by the army to reach Srinagar-based 15 Corps HQ. A large section of marshy land separates the JKEDI complex from Jhelum river. Local police had on many occasions proposed securing the building with security forces.[4] These proposals, however, were dismissed after the JKEDI administration said that a police presence would potentially scare children away from visiting the area.[5]
References
- "Pampore encounter in its final stage, govt building, where terrorists are holed up, on fire". indiatoday.intoday.in. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- "JKEDI Siege". JKNN. Jammu Kashmir News Network. 23 February 2016.
- "Toll Rises to Six as Two Army Captains Killed in Srinagar Siege". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
- Ojha, Saengeeta. "India Today".
- Desk, NewsGram News. "Kashmir attack: Why JKEDI was an easy target for the terrorists? - NewsGram". NewsGram. Retrieved 14 March 2016.