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  India   Militants kill 3 cops in Srinagar

Militants kill 3 cops in Srinagar

Published : May 24, 2016, 5:36 am IST
Updated : May 24, 2016, 5:36 am IST

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti laying wreath at the coffins of three policemen who were shot dead by militants in twin strikes in the summer capital Srinagar. (Photo: PTI)

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti laying wreath at the coffins of three policemen who were shot dead by militants in twin strikes in the summer capital Srinagar. (Photo: PTI)

Militants suspected to be from the Hizbul Mujahideen targeted police personnel in Srinagar Monday, killing three of them in two separate incidents that appear to be the result of a clear directive from their ISI handlers in Pakistan.

Security sources here said there had been credible intelligence for the last few days that ISI officials and top terror operatives were instigating militants in the Valley to target security personnel and, despite the heightened alert, they managed to succeed. In one of the incidents the militants managed to escape with the service rifle of the killed policemen.

The Union home ministry and the office of the national security adviser reviewed the security scenario in the Kashmir Valley, following which the Army, BSF and CRPF were directed to launch a massive counter-offensive.

“We have asked the security forces to identify the group behind these attacks and immediately initiate strong action against them. There were reports that security forces would be targeted once the capital shifted from Jammu to Srinagar. There was an alert but unfortunately despite that the incident has happened,” a senior home ministry official said. A report on the incident has also been sought from the state government. In the first incident, reported Monday morning from Srinagar’s Zadibal area, militants shot dead two policemen from close range. Assistant sub-inspector Ghulam Mohammad and head constable Nazir Ahmad died on the spot.

The second shooting happened around 12 noon when a police constable, Mohammed Sadiz, who was posted as the personal security guard to the chairman of the J&K Pasmanda Tabqajaat, Mohammad Abdullah Chatwal, was attacked at Tengpora, on the Parimpora-Hyderpora bypass road.

While escaping the militants snatched the service rifle of the injured policeman who later succumbed to his injuries at the police hospital in Batmaloo.

This is the second time after three years that militants have targeted local police personnel in the Kashmir Valley. A similar attack took place on June 22, 2013, when two policemen were shot dead at Hari Singh High Street. “We are trying to ascertain whether both the attacks (on Monday) were carried out by the same group or there were two different modules. These attacks also show the desperation of militant groups operating in the Valley who are planning to step up their activities during the summer season. More such attacks, including fidayeen (suicide) attacks on security forces, are expected in the days ahead so security now is at an all-time high. There is some concern that some local youth may have joined the Hizbul Mujahideen in the last few days and some are acting as sleeper cells for the terror outfit,” an intelligence official said.

The state government described the killings of the policemen as “unfortunate”. “Such incidents and inimical forces will not deter our determination to restore peace and order or sabotage our mission for development and provide succour to the common man. Such incidents will not weaken our resolve,” deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh said.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said the twin terror strikes in Srinagar were “extremely worrying”. “News of terror attacks in Zadibal & Tengpora in Srinagar extremely worrying. My condolences to families of policemen martyred in these attacks (sic),” Mr Gandhi tweeted.

Location: India, Delhi, New Delhi