Two policemen were killed and four others wounded in separate attacks in Bijbehara and Sopore towns of Kashmir Valley since Friday evening while authorities imposed restrictions in Tulmulla pocket of Ganderbal district after a mob attempted to attack a police station to snatch a detained civilian allegedly involved in adultery.
Sources said that unidentified gunmen fired upon a police constable Muhammad Altaf while he was managing highway traffic at Goriwan in South Kashmir’s Bijbehara town late on Friday evening. He was shot from a point blank range and succumbed to injuries on way to Srinagar Hospital.
In another incident, a constable of Special Operations Group (SOG) of Police died and four others including a junior officer were wounded when suspected militants hurled a grenade at their vehicle in Jamia Masjid area of volatile North Kashmir town Sopore. The incident occurred past midnight when a group of stone-throwers was engaged in a pitched battle with police during Shab-e-Qadr, a special holy night of Ramzan when Muslims engage in prayers throughout the night.
Police sources said that militants tossed a grenade on the SOG party overseeing law and order situation in the area followed by firing automatic weapons. The attack resulted into on-spot death of constable Muhammad Sayed Khan, a resident of frontier district Kupwara. Four personnel including Dilraj Singh were wounded in the attack. They were shifted to Army Base Hospital in Srinagar for treatment. Soon after the attack, police and paramilitary forces cordoned off the area to track down attackers but there was no success.
Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) Abdul Gani Mir condemned the killing of two policemen saying the deceased were survived by unmarried sisters and young daughters. Khan is reportedly survived by five daughters and pregnant wife. The Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly condemned the brutal killing of two policemen. In a statement, party president, Mehbooba Mufti said the killings have no place in a civilised society and they only lead to tragedies.
Meanwhile, the authorities imposed restrictions in Tulmulla pocket of Ganderbal district after a rampaging mob attempted to attack a police station during Friday night. At least a dozen protesters and policemen were injured in the clashes triggered by an alleged immoral act by a Government employee.
Police said that a Government employee was caught by people along with a lady in Zonal Education Office, allegedly in an objectionable state, when the office was scheduled to be closed in the wake of public holiday. He was beaten to pulp before police took him into the custody while the lady fled the scene with the help of some locals.
Reports said that during late night hours a local preacher accused police of shielding the culprit. The Imam’s speech triggered protests and an angry mob attempted to raid the police station where the accused was detained.