Srinagar: Police in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district are trying to identify a boy, believed to be a Class 10 student, who allegedly threatened CRPF personnel at a checkpoint two days before terrorists opened fire at the same location.

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According to sources, the boy approached the static checkpoint on Monday and told the personnel, "Hum tumhe chhodenge nahi" (We will not spare you). The CRPF personnel reportedly did not take the warning seriously at the time.

However, following Wednesday's attack, investigators are examining whether the threat had any connection with the firing. Police are working to establish the boy's identity and determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. No link between the boy and the attackers has been established so far.

Three CRPF personnel injured in firing at Kulgam checkpoint

The attack took place around 2.15 pm on Wednesday at a CRPF checkpoint near Mir Bazar in Kulgam district.

According to officials, two heavily armed attackers emerged from a densely wooded area and opened fire at the post. Three CRPF personnel were injured, including one who sustained critical injuries.

The checkpoint is located approximately 75 km from Srinagar and around a kilometre from the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

The injured personnel were taken to a hospital in neighbouring Anantnag district, around 22 km from the site. One jawan suffered serious abdominal injuries, while the other two sustained bullet wounds to their arms, legs and feet.

A CRPF source said all three personnel retaliated despite being injured and attempted to chase the attackers. Their response reportedly forced the assailants to retreat.

Security agencies suspect Lashkar-e-Taiba operative Mohammad Latief Bhat

Security agencies suspect the involvement of Mohammad Latief Bhat, a local commander of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit, in the attack.

Bhat had reportedly escaped a security operation in Shopian in July. Security agencies are also examining his suspected links to two terror attacks reported during the same month.

However, the identities of the two attackers have not been officially confirmed, and the suspected involvement of Bhat remains under investigation.

Initial reports suggested that the attackers had arrived on a motorcycle. However, subsequent ground verification during joint search operations found no evidence of a two-wheeler being used.

Officials said the two men had approached the checkpoint on foot from a forested patch approximately 50 metres away. One attacker opened fire while the other provided cover. They then fled towards Naupur, using the dense vegetation to escape.

Investigators have recovered a Motorola mobile phone and a SIM card from the area. CCTV footage from nearby commercial establishments is also being examined to reconstruct the attackers' movements.

Search operation launched, security tightened

Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to locate the attackers. Additional barricades have been installed, armoured vehicles deployed and announcements made through loudspeakers asking residents to remain indoors.

Officials said security personnel had already been deployed at the checkpoint following intelligence inputs about suspected terrorist movement in the area.

The attack comes amid other security-related incidents reported in the region in recent months. On July 31, two labourers from Chhattisgarh were killed at a brick kiln in Kulgam. A police constable was also shot in neighbouring Anantnag earlier in July.

Political reactions follow Kulgam attack

The attack prompted criticism from political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir.

Former chief minister and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah questioned the administration's claims of normalcy in the Union Territory. He wished the injured CRPF personnel a speedy recovery and said the Lieutenant Governor-led administration, which is responsible for law and order, should be held accountable for recurring incidents of violence.

Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the attack. In a statement posted on X, the PDP said violence had no place in a society seeking lasting peace, stability and dignity.

What the Kulgam attack raises about security in the region

The attack raises questions about the security arrangements around vulnerable checkpoints, particularly those located close to forested areas and major transport routes.

The attackers reportedly approached on foot from a wooded patch close to the CRPF post, opened fire and escaped using the surrounding vegetation. The recovery of a mobile phone and SIM card, along with the examination of CCTV footage, could help investigators reconstruct their movements and identify possible support networks.

The alleged threat issued by a schoolboy two days earlier is another important part of the investigation. Establishing the boy's identity, the context of his remarks and whether he had any connection with the attackers will be crucial. Until investigators establish such a link, the warning should not be treated as proof of prior knowledge or involvement.

The suspected involvement of Mohammad Latief Bhat also brings attention to the security agencies' efforts to track local militant networks. His reported escape during an earlier operation and suspected links to previous attacks are relevant investigative leads, but his role in the latest incident has not been officially established.

The political response has once again brought the administration's claims of improved security and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir under scrutiny. The investigation will need to establish who carried out the attack, how they approached and escaped from the checkpoint, and whether there were any intelligence or security gaps.