2 cops killed in Pulwama attack; 8 CRPF men hurt
SRINAGAR: In a daring attack on a security post in south Kashmir’s Pulwama town, suspected militants on Tuesday killed two policemen and injured a third. The attackers fled with two service rifles belonging to the slain policemen after the incident at the district court complex. Militants also targeted a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) picket in Anantnag, injuring eight troopers.
The attacks dovetail with speculation that the suspension of counter-insurgency operations in the valley during the Islamic fasting month of Ramzan will be extended. After concluding a recent two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Union home minister Rajnath Singh said a decision on extending the suspension will be taken after a review of the situation in the valley.
State government officials were upbeat about the possibility of an extension of the so-called unilateral ceasefire.
The militants targeted the guard post in the court complex in Pulwama at first light, injuring three policemen, two of whom died later, a police spokesman said.the slain men were identified as Ghulam Rasool and Ghulam Hassan, residents of Baramulla and Kupwara districts. The injured policeman, Manzoor Ahmad, was hospitalised.
Mohammad Aslam, the superintendent of police in Pulwama, said the attack was suspected to be the handiwork of the Jaish-e-mohammad militant group.
“The court complex is located close to the Degree College complex. It’s a huge area and there were not many policemen present ...when the militants targeted it,’’ he said
“We have identified the militants and registered a case,’’ the police officer added.
SP PULWAMA SAID THE ATTACK APPEARED TO BE A HANDIWORK OF MILITANT GROUP JAISHEMOHAMMAD
SRINAGAR: For the children of head constables Ghulam Hassan Wagay and Ghulam Rasool Lone, this Eid will be a never-ending wait for their fathers to be home.
The policemen, who had promised to be home for the biggest Muslim festival, were killed when a group of militants attacked a guard post at the district court in South Kashmir’s Pulwama on Tuesday morning.
“Why did you break your promise, Papa? Why did you leave us alone? Didn’t you say I will be home for Eid,” said Wagay’s son as relatives tried to console him. “Wasn’t your neck hurting? Let me massage you.” The video of the boy mourning his father was widely shared on social media.
Wagay, who was in his 40s and came from Rafiabad in Baramulla, is survived by his wife and three sons, aged 22, 19 and 13.
Lone, like his colleague Wagay, had plans for Eid, which will be celebrated on Friday or Saturday, once the moon is sighted.
“He had called me last evening, saying keep kids ready I will take them home and who knew we will have to see this in the morning,” Lone’s brother-in-law Mohmmad Yusuf, who lives in Srinagar, said on Tuesday.
Lone, who hailed from Lolab Kupwara, leaves behind a young family. His sons are aged 12 and seven and the daughter is nine. His wife is a homemaker.
Thousands of people, including women and children, attended the two funerals. There was widespread anger and a debate if militants should target policemen involved in non-combat operations.
“It’s very rare that we policemen visit our home during Eid or Diwali but this time these cops got to visit their homes on Eid but in body bags. Heart wrenching,” Baramulla superintendent of police Imtiyaz Hussain tweeted.
The fact that the attack came on Shab-e-qadr, the night of blessings in during Ramzan, added to the anger.
It also brought back memories of the last year’s lynching of deputy superintendent of police Mohammad Ayub Pandith. The policeman was killed outside Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid on Shab-e-qadr.
Public works minister and senior People’s Democratic Party leader Naeem Akhtar questioned the silence of separatists.
“Repeat of shameful lynching of DSP Ayub Pandit on his anniversary. Perpetrators worst enemies of Kashmir, its people, Islam. Stupid to think guns looted after killing humans will arm them enough to fight any successful war. Silence? @Mirwaizkashmir,” he tweeted.
Tuesday’s attack was the 54th time that security forces have been targeted after the government on May 16 unilaterally called off operations in the Valley for the holy month on Ramzan.