Rifle snatched from cop at Kashmir University gate
TARGETED Officer was on deputation from Armed Police, searches on to nab suspects
SRINAGAR: Unidentified people snatched a rifle from a policeman guarding Kashmir University in Srinagar on Wednesday.
Police officials said some people overpowered the officer guarding the university near Rumi Gate and took away his rifle.
A police spokesman said the officer was on deputation from Armed Police and that searches were being conducted in the area and suspects being identified.
“The incident has happened inside the university near the Rumi Gate. The policeman is fine,” said Kashmir inspector general of police SP Pani.
The snatching prompted a reaction from former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah. “They are even snatching rifles outside Kashmir University now. It doesn’t look like any place in Kashmir is safe any longer,” he tweeted.
EXCHANGE OF FIRE IN TRAL
Earlier in the day, there was some exchange of fire between government forces and suspected militants in the forests of Tral in Awantipora, some 40 km south of Srinagar.
An official at Awantipora police control room said militants opened fire on a patrol party in Shikargah which was retaliated.
“Following the exchange of fire, security forces searched the area which ended without any result,” he said.
ULTRAS ATTACK ARMY PATROL IN SHOPIAN
In an another incident at Shopian district, suspected militants opened fire on an army patrol party at Amshipora. The security forces started a search after the attack but could not find anybody, police said. The operation has concluded, said an official at Police Control Room Shopian.
On Tuesday, a policeman was killed and another injured in a suspected militant attack in Anantnag district. Special police officer Bilal Ahmad was critically wounded when militants fired at a police vehicle in Bijbehara.
On the same day, a grenade was lobbed which burst near police station Rajpora in Pulwama district. However, no loss of life and property was reported.
As many as 41 people, including militants, civilians and security personnel, have been killed in several instances of violence across Kashmir in April.