Panic gripped entire Srinagar on March 13, 2013 when after a gap of three years Fidayeen appeared  in the sprwaling grounds of Police Public School at Bemina. The subsequent encounter led to the killing of five CRPF men as the both the militants were neutralized within 15 minutes. Kashmir Life’s photo Editor Bilal Bahadur reached the spot within minutes and clicked this story for the history:

As soon the militants opened fire on CRPF men in the play field, taking their position the joint group of police, CRPF and army retaliated. The whole area of Bemina and adjoining areas were shrouded in silence, what only could be heard were the gun shots.

It was a state of confusion. Diving on roads. Crawling. Taking position to neutralize the militants and secure the adjoining area where the families of CRPF personnel are stationed.

Within minutes even army reached the spot. They did not fight but were ready to get engaged. That is perhaps why they were unwilling to be clicked. All around the site, the troops laid their cordon.

To aid police and CRPF, army came in, taking their position in the grass on one side. Eyewitnesses termed it as the battle filed where nobody knew what to do and where to go.

Aimed to shoot at militants, the army were giving the covering by his fellow colleagues.  Bullets zooming out of the barrel of gun.

Fighting for 15 odd minutes, militants were killed. With ease in tension, the bodies are being taken out of the site.

With the death of two militants, 5 CRPF men were also killed in the gun battle, many injured. The bodies of CRPF men being taken on the stretchers.

When the battle was on, people were running for their safety. Children holding each others hand were moving away from the place.

Taken to district police lines in Srinagar, the wreath-laying function of 5 CRPF personnel were conducted with full state honour.

J&K police contingent giving honouring the slain colleagues by reversing their guns in district police lines.

City Police chief, Ashiq Hussain Bukhari salutes the slain CRPF men during the wreath-laying ceremony. The funeral was attended by top brass of police and paramilitary forces. DGP, Ashok Prasad shouldered the coffin.

After wreath laying was over, the bodies were taken in ambulance for Srinagar Airport, where from they were sent to their respective places.

Even Chief Minister Omar Abdullah after being criticized for absenting himself at DPL, paid homage at the airport.

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