Two policemen guarding a youth leader of ruling National Conference were killed in an attack by militants in south Kashmir on Sunday. This is the first direct attack on mainstream political leaders in Jammu & Kashmir since the lok Sabha elections were announced on March 5. The attackers, belonging to Al-Shohada Brigade, a front of pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen outfit, were eliminated in a separate encounter while fleeing from the scene with a snatched rifle of a slain cop.
Sources said that two militants made an abortive attempt on the life of 32-year-old Youth NC leader Yawar Masoodi at his residence in Khrew village of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, 30 kilometres from here. Masoodi, who is son of High Court judge Justice Hasnain Masoodi, is considered as the prospective candidate of the ruling party in Pampore constituency. He was inside the house when the attack took place but escaped from the backdoor without any harm.
Al-Shohada Brigade, which earlier took responsibility for two major suicide attacks in Jammu province said that their cadre carried out the attack. Sources said that militants appeared on Masoodi’s house on Sunday afternoon and sought appointment with the youth leader. The guards insisted on frisking before entry into the house prompting the militants to open fire.
During the shootout, two guards — Head Constable Abdul Hamid and Constable Vinod Kumar — were critically wounded. They were shifted to hospital where they succumbed to injuries. Soon after the incident, the security forces cordoned off the area and tracked down the fleeing militants at nearby Indrus village. They were shot dead after a brief encounter. Police sources confirmed that one AK series rifle snatched from the cop was also recovered.
Masoodi belonging to an influential family was residing with his father at Khrew. He is involved in party activities for several years and deemed as prospective candidate of the ruling party in the upcoming Assembly elections. The attack has sent worrying signals to mainstream political parties geared up for the parliamentary polls. The south Kashmir constituency is going to polls on April 24. NC president Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the attack.