Civilian killed, cop hurt in Sopore attack
Majid Jahangir/TNS

Srinagar, March 24
Suspected militants today struck in north Kashmir’s Sopore town killing a 65-year-old civilian and critically wounding a policeman. This comes barely three days after a BSF jawan was killed in Srinagar.

The attack took place around 12.35 pm when a police team was clearing traffic in a busy market in Sopore town, 53 km from Srinagar. The militants took away the service rifle of the injured constable, Kishore Kumar. This is the fourth attack on security forces this month. Eight police and paramilitary personnel have been killed and nine others injured in these attacks.

Kashmir IGP Abdul Gani Mir said the policemen exercised restraint and did not retaliate to the militant fire.

“The Iqbal market (where the attack took place) was teeming with people prompting the police not to retaliate,” Mir told The Tribune.

The IGP said the militants opened fire on policemen when they were clearing a traffic jam.

“A militant fired three bullets from a pistol hitting Kishore Kumar of IRP’s 16th Battalion in the neck and 65-year-old pedestrian Abdul Rashid Dar, a resident of Rafiabad, Baramulla, in the head. The two were taken to a hospital where the civilian succumbed to his injuries,” Mir said.

“The militants took advantage of the rush and fled the scene. We have launched a manhunt to nab them,” he said. Security forces arrived at the scene soon after and cordoned off the market. A search operation was later launched to trace the militants.

Media reports said Hizbul Mujahideen had taken responsibility for the attack.

On March 13, five CRPF personnel were killed in a fidayeen attack on the outskirts of Srinagar. Only three days ago, militants had ambushed a BSF convoy, killing a jawan and injuring two others.