J&K cop killed after militants opened fire

Srinagar: A Jammu and Kashmir policeman was killed in gunfire with militants at Nandinarg in southern Kulgam district on Saturday evening.

The officials said that the slain policeman Khurshid Ahmed Tak was part of a team deputed at a medical camp in the area. “While returning from duty, the AST team and the bunker vehicle which was part of the entourage came under a sneak attack by militants at Nandinarg crossing in the jurisdiction of Damhal Hanji Pora police station,” a police spokesman said.

He said that the police party returned the fire and “due to brave retaliatory action foiled the attempt of weapon snatching planned by militants.” It added, “During the attack, the driver of the AST vehicle Khurshid Ahmad Tak was injured. But he displayed a conspicuous act of courage by successfully taking the vehicle out of arch of fire and saved the lives of others. He attained martyrdom in the process,”(sic) a statement issued by the police added.

It alleged that the assailants belonged to the Gulzar Paddar group and Umar Majid Ganie group of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. The slain policeman is survived by his parents, wife, 3-year-old daughter and 2-year- old son, the police said.

An earlier report had said that Tak and another policeman who was injured in the militant attack were part of the security detail of ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Abdul Majid Padroo. According to this report, the lawmaker’s motorcade came under militant attack at Nandinarg crossing of Kulgam but he escaped unhurt. The police statement denied it.

The assailants are reported to have fled the area. But manhunt for them has been launched, said officials.