M A I N   N E W S

SHO among 2 killed as cop opens fire, DSP hurt
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 21
Two persons including the SHO of Maisuma police station, were killed and a Deputy Superintendent of Police injured due to firing by a constable in the central Budshah Chowk area here this morning. Another person was injured in the incident that reportedly followed an altercation between the police personnel.

The incident took place outside the highly guarded building at Budshah Chowk at 8.20 am when the procession for taking the holy mace of Lord Shiva was scheduled to leave for Pahalgam as part of the ongoing Amarnath yatra in south Kashmir. Those killed included Inspector Ghulam Nabi Parray, SHO of Maisuma police station, under which the area falls. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr Ghulam Jeelani Baba, was seriously injured in the incident and is being treated at the SKIMS, Soura. His condition is stated to be critical. A driver of the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC), Bashir Ahmad, died in the shootout.

Police sources said that the erring constable had been taken into custody and further investigations into the incident were going on.

Elsewhere, at least three persons were killed and four others injured in separate militancy related incidents in the Kashmir valley since yesterday.

Two persons, including a woman, were killed in an exchange of fire between militants and security forces at Doabgah, Sopore in Baramula district today. Two others were injured in the incident, the police here said. Those killed have been identified as Zarifa Begum and Javed Manzoor Sofi. The encounter took place after the militants hurled a grenade towards security forces stationed at Keema House and followed it with firing.

One civilian, Ghulam Mohammad Jan, was killed and two others injured when they were fired upon by militants near the KMD mosque in Anantnag town today.