3 Policemen killed in J&K attack

Srinagar : A spate of militant attacks within a span of four hours killed three policemen and injured two people across the Kashmir Valley on Monday.

In the first attack, two pistol-bearing militants reportedly shot at and critically injured sub-inspector (SI) Ghulam Mustafa of the J&K Police when he was on his way to duty in a local passenger bus in the volatile Pattan area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

Barely an hour later, three policemen were shot dead when four-five heavily-armed militants wearing Army fatigues attacked a police party in the Shamsipora village of the Shopian district of south Kashmir, said reports.

“The policemen posted at the Shopian police station were not armed at the time of the attack, and had left for the village to investigate a civil case. All three cops succumbed to their injuries on their way to hospital,” a police official told Deccan Herald. 

“While returning from the village, they were dragged out of the passenger vehicle they were travelling in by a group of heavily-armed militants, who fired at them from point-blank range,” he added.

The deceased have been identified as Mushtaq Ahmad, Nisar Ahmad and Shabir Ahmad. Immediately after the incident, security forces cordoned off the whole area and launched a massive manhunt to nab the assailants, said



reports.

In the third incident, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen former member Rafiq Ahmad Bhat was shot at and critically injured by unidentified ultras in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, said the police, adding that the ex-militant was rushed to Srinagar for treatment.

No militant outfit has so far claimed responsibility for the attacks. 

Inspector General Police (IGP) Kashmir, Syed Javed Mujtaba Gilani, said the police had no specific inputs about such attacks. However, he was quick to add that the police have got vital inputs about the attacks and are working on it. “We will not disclose these inputs at present, but the entire force is working on the leads we have,” he told reporters.

Meanwhile, in the wake of this sudden spurt in violence, security was tightened across the Valley, especially in Srinagar. Barricades and police check-posts have been put in place at various intersections in Srinagar, while sources said tight vigil is being maintained at major security installations.

The state Director General of Police (DGP), K Rajendra Kumar, who rushed to Srinagar from Jammu after the attacks, took stock of the security situation in the Valley. 

He said the police would continue its fight against terrorism and ensure peaceful atmosphere for the people of the state despite provocations.