| EDI building suffered extensive damage, needs Rs 5 crore for repair | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Feb 24: The multi-storied building of Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) has suffered massive damage during the 48-hour-long encounter between holed up militants and security forces which concluded on February 22 afternoon.
However, the records of the EDI is safe and normal working will be resumed within a week in guest house and hostel building which were not affected during the encounter.
The building, which was constructed at a cost of Rs 17 crore, has now been handed over to civil authorities after security forces declared it safe, removing a live hand grenade and other material.
The encounter ensued on February 20 afternoon when a group of three militants attacked a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy at Sempora, Pampore on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, resulting in the killing of two personnel and injuries 13 others, including an Assistant Commandant.
However, the militants later entered the EDI building at Sempora, Pampore, about 12 km from here in south Kashmir district of Pulwama. More than 120 students, employees and other civilians were present in the building. However, all these persons came out safely from the building.
However, a gardener of the EDI Abdul Gani was also killed after being hit by a bullet during the encounter.
Three Army personnel, including two Captains, of PARA commando unit also lost their lives in the encounter, during which upper storey of the building caught fire.
Security forces fired mortars to shells to eliminate the militants who were hiding in the building.
Director EDI Mohammad Ismail Parray said the building with all the modern facilities was constructed at a cost of Rs 17 crores.
Though it suffered massive damage during the encounter, all the record of the EDI was safe.
"We need Rs 5 crore for repair and renovation of the building, he said adding the normal work of the EDI will be started within a week. We have now decided to start the work in the hotels and guest house buildings which were not affected by the encounter," he said. |
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