Srinagar, July 3
Two constables were shot dead by militants in separate incidents in south Kashmir today. “Unidentified militants fired upon constable Dalbeer Singh near Rajpora Chowk in Pulwama. He was rushed to Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital (SMHS), Srinagar, where he succumbed to his injuries,” a police spokesman said.

The incident happened in the afternoon when the constable was on duty near Rajpora Chowk.

The incident triggered panic at the busy market area. A hunt has been launched to nab the unidentified gunmen, who fled away from the spot. The police has registered a case.

Dalbeer Singh was a resident of Gohan village in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. He had joined the police force in 2000 and had tied the nuptial knot recently. He is survived by aged parents and his spouse.

In another incident that took place this evening in south Kashmir, unidentified militants fired at constable Mukhtar Ahmad Bhat near Yaripora-Kulgam. The injured constable was rushed to the sub-district hospital, Kulgam, where he died.

Bhat was a resident of Pathbugh-Dialgam village in Anantnag district. He had joined the police force in 2001. He is survived by his mother, spouse and three kids. The police has registered a case. No militant outfit has so far claimed responsibility for the killings.

There has been a slight increase in militancy-related incidents across Kashmir during the past two months.

On May 17, a major tragedy was averted with the timely detection of a 70-kg IED at Chanapora in Srinagar city and two days later, 10 persons, including three policemen, were injured in two separate grenade attacks in Sopore town of north Kashmir and the Batamaloo area of the city.

Seven CRPF men were injured in a firing incident at Victory Crossing, Khanyar, in the old city on May 30.

In June, suspected militants issued death threats to panches and sarpanches in south Kashmir following which the house of a village head was attacked in Kulgam district on June 6.