Civilian killed, Cop injured in Sopore Shootout Hizb claims responsibility

Srinagar: One civilian died while a policeman was injured when suspected militants opened fire in Sopore town this afternoon.
According to police spokesman, some unidentified militants opened fire on policemen when they were clearing a traffic Jam near Iqbal market, Sopore, resulting in injuries to a policeman Kishore Kumar of IRP 16ht-BN and a 65 years old Abdul Rashid Dar son of Wali Mohammad resident of Drusu, Rafiabad.
He said both the injured were shifted to hospital for treatment. “However, the civilian succumbed to his injuries”, he said adding “Taking advantage of huge rush in the market militants managed to escape. Police Sopore has taken cognizance in this regard”.
Militants are believed to have fled the spot after snatching the service rifle of the injured policeman.
“After Mohammad Afzal Guru execution, it was first time that Sunday market opened in Sopore. It was traffic jam and policemen were busy in clearing roads for the smooth movement of traffic. Suddenly, militants opened three fires resulting in injury to one civilian and a policeman”, eye witnesses told.
Injured policeman has been identified as Kishore Kumar IRP battalion belt number 837. He has been admitted in SKIMS. An injured civilian identified as Abdur Rasheed Dar S/o Wali Mohammad Dar R/o Drusoo Rafiaabad succumbed to his injuries in a way to hospital.
“We exercised maximum restraint to avoid civilian causalities. It gave militants an opportunity to flee who also took the service rifle of the injured policeman”, S.P Sopore Mir Imtiyaz told.
Meanwhile, a caller identifying himself as Baleegudin, spokesperson of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit, claimed that attack was carried by sleuths of the organisation.
He said the Chief Operations Commander of Hizb has congratulated the group for carrying out ‘this successful operation’.
“Two policemen were injured in the attack while service rifle of one policeman was also taken away”, he said.
The attack comes three days after militants attacked a BSF convoy in the outskirts of Srinagar city, leaving one trooper dead and two others injured. It is third militant attack on forces in a period of two weeks.