Militants kill two cops in Srinagar, flee with their guns

SRINAGAR : Two policemen were killed in separate attacks in Kashmir on Sunday. In both incidents, the assailants snatched the weapons of the cops before escaping, said officials.

Selection grade constable Kultar Singh was killed when militants fired on him outside the historic Chrar-e-sharif shrine in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Sunday afternoon, police said.

Director general of police SP Vaid, tweeted: “Pained at the loss of a valued colleague SGCT Kultar Singh JKAP 13 Bn who attained martyrdom in an attack on J-K Police guard for protection of Chrar-e-sharif shrine.”

The shrine is one of the most revered in Kashmir. Built as a homage to Sufi saint Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani, the shrine is said to be around 600 years old --- although the original was destroyed during a gunfight between militants and forces in 1995 and then rebuilt.

Kultar Singh’s last moments are captured in video which is now being circulated on social media, where he falls to the ground bleeding after saying to the man holding the camera that he was shot twice and the two gunmen escaped snatching his rifle. In the video, locals are seen rushing for medical help after picking him up.

Police said constable Farooq Ahmed Yatoo was killed when militants fired on him in Soura locality of Srinagar. Yatoo, a native of Chadoora area of Budgam district, was posted as a guard at the residence of separatist leader Fazal Haq Qureshi. Qureshi had survived an attempt on his life in 2009. Police said investigation are on in both cases.