Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Mar 24: Militants today attempted a cop killing in North Kashmir Sopore town in a busy market area, leaving a civilian dead and a policeman critically injured.
A Police spokesman said that militants opened fire on a police party while they were clearing the traffic jam in Iqbal market area in Sopore. He said that constable Kishor Kumar of 16th Battalion of Indian Reserve Police (IRP) was hit by a bullet in the neck while Abdul Rashid Dar son of Wali Mohammad resident of Drusu, Rafiabad was also injured in the attack.
Dar, who was referred to Srinagar for treatment, later succumbed to injuries. The militants also snatched the service rifle of the injured cop before fleeing from the scene.
Police said that they did not retaliate fearing civilian casualties due to huge rush in the market. And militants taking advantage of the crowded place escaped.
Inspector General of Police A G Mir visited the spot and gave instructions for getting the perpetrators of the incident immediately. He also patted police for acting appropriately in the circumstances.
The attack caused panic and market in the area closed immediately. Police cordoned off Gulabad locality and conducted searches for the suspected militants. However, no one was arrested.
A Hizbul Mujahideen spokesman Baleegudin told a local news agency that its militants have carried out the attack. “Two policemen were injured in the attack while service rifle of one policeman was also taken away”, the spokesman claimed.
The attack comes three days after militants attacked a BSF convoy in Chanpora area of Srinagar city, leaving a jawan dead and two others injured.
On March 13, Lashkar-e-Toiba militants, disguised as cricketers, had attacked a CRPF camp in Srinagar city, killing five CRPF men. Two militants were killed in retaliatory action, while police arrested four persons including a Pakistani national in the course of investigations into the attack.
On March 2, two policemen were shot dead by militants in Kupwara district of north Kashmir. Constables Santosh Kumar and Azad Chand of Indian Reserve Police (IRP) were shot at by the militants from point blank range in Handwara town.
A counter-insurgent was killed in Tangmarg area of North Kashmir on March 8 and a youth allegedly working for security agencies was killed in Sopore area of North Kashmir was shot dead on March 19.
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