SRINAGAR, DEC 11: A militant attack on a police post in Kashmir’s Shopian left at four cops dead on Tuesday.
According to reports, the police personal were deployed at a police post guarding Kashmiri Pandits at Zainpora village in Shopian. “The post is around 200 meters away from the concerned police station, CRPF and army camp”, they added.
“Soon after the sound of gunshots caused panic, a contingent of police and army arrived at the spot and searches were launched to nab the attackers. The injured cop was rushed to a hospital where his condition is stable,” they said.
A senior police officer confirmed news agency Press Trust of Kashmir the death of four cops, “The militants also managed to decamp with four rifles of policemen but we have launched a manhunt to nab them and recover the weapons,” the officer said.
Reports said that the militants entered into a guard room where four cop were on duty and shot at them, killing four of them. The slain police personnel have been identified as Abdul Majid, Manzoor Ahmed and Mohammed Amin.
A police spokesperson identified the slain cops as Anees Ahmad, a constable (480/Spn) of Kulgam town, Abdul Majid, a senior grade constable (193/SPN) of Ganderbal and Merajuddin, a constable (477/SPN) of Hajin in Bandipora and Hamidullah (860/SPN), a resident of Anantnag.
The militants also walked away with weapons of the policemen, the official said, adding that all people from the community were safe.
Shopian has emerged as the new hub of militant activities in Kashmir Valley with maximum number of militants killed this year by forces belonging to this district. According to one estimate, of over 220 militants killed this year in Kashmir, close to 40 hailed from Shopian.
Militants have also targeted security personnel in this district at regular intervals. On September 30, a J&K Police constable, Saqib Mir, was killed when militant fired at Shopian police station. The attackers later managed to escape.
Earlier on September 21 this year, three policemen, two of them SPO, were kidnapped and killed hours later in Shopian district of South Kashmir.
On August 29 this year, militants shot dead four policemen in Shopian, hours after a top commander of the Hizbul Mujahedeen, Altaf Dar, and his associate, were killed in an encounter in Anantnag.
Meanwhile Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Committee (JKPCC) has expressed deep shock over the assassination of three policemen.
The JKPCC Spokesperson in a statement has strongly condemned the attack on Police Post in Zainapora leading to the assassination of three cops leaving another injured.
He said the killings or violence has neither served any purpose nor will benefit anyone, rather such type of dastardly acts will have serious implications on the society, besides vitiating the peace. The loss of lives are highly painful, Spokesperson said.
JKPCC conveys deepest condolences to bereaved families of slain cops and sympathized With the Spokesperson added and prayed for eternal peace to departed souls.
