Terror strikes UP again, seven CRPF men killed

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New Delhi, Jan 1: Uttar Pradesh’s reputation as a growing target for terror activities caught the spotlight once again on Tuesday when terrorists attempted a fidayeen attack on a CRPF recruitment camp in Rampur district. Seven jawans are reported dead in the incident, and five others injured.

The attack happened in the early hours of Tuesday morning, when four militants donning paramilitary forces’ uniforms swooped on the CRPF sentry post in Rampur, killing four jawans and a rickshawpuller The attack is the second major incident in the state in a short span, following the serial blasts in Lucknow, Faizabad and Varanasi last November, when 13 people were killed.

All the four terrorists managed to escape after the attack. According to inspector general (operations) of CRPF, AP Maheswari, the militants were armed with AK-47 rifles and grenades. Maheshwari maintained that the quick reaction team of the recruitment camp hit back at the militants, forcing three of them to flee.

One, however, managed to enter the administrative block of the camp, where he killed three unarmed CRPF men. Condemning the incident strongly, union home minister Shivraj Patil said he had sought a detailed report from the Uttar Pradesh government.

However, pointing fingers at the CRPF and blaming the Centre for the attack, UP chief minister Mayawati said that her government could be held responsible for the incidence, as the state government had already informed the central agency about a possible attack on its camp in Rampur.

“Rampur district officials had met CRPF officials recently, and asked them to take necessary precautions. The incident indicates laxity on their part,” she told reporters in Lucknow.