Constable killed in militant attack at Shopian police station in Kashmir
SRINAGAR: Militants killed a constable guarding a police station in south Kashmir’s Shopian district early on Sunday, continuing attacks ahead of the urban local body and panchayat elections in the state.
Saqib Mir, 23, was injured when two militants opened indiscriminate fire at the Shopian Police Station early on Sunday. Mir was manning the gate of the police station.
“The attack was repulsed by the jawans... Mir sustained injuries and was evacuated to a nearby hospital. He succumbed to the injuries later,” a police spokesperson said.
Additional director general of police Muneer Khan said: “One of the militants appeared to wear the top of a burkha to cover his face. The militants first lobbed a grenade and then opened fire.”
An official at the police control room in Shopian said the militants fled with Mir’s rifle. The official statement of the police, however, made no mention of the rifle. Later in the day, a wreathlaying ceremony was held to pay tributes to Mir at the District Police Lines.
“We lost a brave colleague Saqib Mir today in a terror strike at Shopian. We stand by his family and support each other at this crucial juncture. Our rich tributes to martyred Jawan for his supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. RIP @Jmukmrpolice,” tweeted Kashmir Police.
The escalation in violence comes ahead of the scheduled urban local body and panchayat polls in the state from October to December. While militants and separatists have urged for a boycott, the elections are being seen as part of the Centre’s efforts to turn the tide in the state.