Militants kill two cops in Pulwama
They opened fire on security post and fled with slain policemen’s guns; 8 CRPF men injured in Anantnag attack
SRINAGAR: In a daring attack on a security post in South Kashmir’s Pulwama, 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 Ramzan will be extended. After concluding a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, home minister Rajnath Singh said a decision on extending the suspension will be taken after a review of the situation.
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. The injured policeman, Manzoor Ahmad, was hospitalised.
Mohammad Aslam, Pulwama SP, said the attack was suspected to be the handiwork of Jaish-emohammad militants. “We have identified the militants and registered a case,’’ he added.
Hours after the attack, pictures of two rifles purportedly snatched from the slain policemen surfaced on social media.
In another attack in South Kashmir, eight CRPF troopers were injured when militants tossed a grenade at a picket in Anantnag’s Ganjivera.
Tuesday’s attacks take to 54 the number of incidents of violence in Valley since the suspension of counter-insurgency operations.
Former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah blamed militants groups for trying to sabotage the government initiative. ‘’With the militant organisations doing their best to make sure the ceasefire is a failure...,’’ he said.