3 cops hurt in grenade attack, 1 militant arrested

SRINAGAR: Three policemen, including a senior officer, were injured on Wednesday in a grenade attack in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, police said.

Militants hurled a grenade on a police checkpost near Babateng in Pattan town, injuring deputy superintendent of police Zaffar Ahmad, special police officer Shabir Ahmad and another cop .

The officers were shifted to sub district hospital in Pattan and were later shifted to Srinagar.

“We had received information that militants were travelling on the Baramulla -Srinagar national highway. Based on the information, police party was deployed at a naka in the area,” said Baramulla senior superintendent of police (SSP) Imtiaz Hussain.

“One of the vehicles was signalled to stop, but the militants inside the vehicle hurled a hand grenade on police party,” SSP said. However, soon after the attack, a search and cordon operation was launched in the area and one militant was arrested, while other fled the spot, he said.

“The arrested militant, Faizan Majeed Bhat of Naibug Tral in Pulwama district, had got recruited in militant ranks on October 3. His accomplice Showkat Ahmad Bhat of Awantipore managed to escape,” the SSP said. The duo had recently joined Tehreekul Mujahideen militant outfit, he said.

The grenade explosion led to a panic situation in the town. Passenger were stuck as the highway remained jammed for few hours.

Witnessing the attack, the local recounted the incident.“we had a narrow escape,” said Ishfaq Ahmad who was travelling towards Srinagar in his private vehicle.