Srinagar, Dec 10: Two policemen were killed in a hit and run militant attack in Bandipora district in north Kashmir on Friday evening, while a massive hunt was launched to nab the attackers, police said.
The slain policemen have been identified as Senior Grade Constable Muhammad Sultan Dar (driver), a resident of Dangerpora Sopore and Constable Fayaz Ahmad Lone of Lalpora Lolab, Kupwara. Both the policemen were posted with Police Station Bandipora.
“Terrorists fired upon a police party at Gulshan Chowk area of Bandipora. In this terror incident, 2 police personnel namely SgCT Mohd Sultan & Ct Fayaz Ahmad got injured & attained martyrdom. Area cordoned off. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice,” Kashmir Zone Police Tweeted soon after the incident.
Police sources said that militants whose exact number is being ascertained, opened indiscriminate firing upon the police party in Gulshan Chowk area of Bandipora that subsequently resulted in critical injuries to both policemen. They said that injured policemen were rushed to a nearby health facility, however they were declared brought dead. “They have gunshot wounds to vital organs,” police said.
Soon after the incident the area was cordoned off and a massive hunt was underway when this report was being filed. Senior officers of police, paramilitary forces and Army have reached the spot to take stock of the situation. All the exit and entrance points of town have been sealed in wake of massive hunt.
This is the first major militant attack in Kashmir after the recent spate of targetted attacks on migrant workers and civilians in Kashmir. Police had said that militants behind the target killings have been killed in a series of encounters in the last two months.
Pertinently, Bandipora witnessed another attack on security personnel last month at a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in Bandipora’s Sumbal. No damage however was caused as the grenade missed its intended target. The district earlier in October also witnessed a grenade attack which led to six civilians, including a woman, being injured.
Bandipora has been relatively peaceful over the last year barring the killing of a civilian a few weeks back. Following this, police had said that they arrested a module comprising of five to six overground workers of militants
The last major attack that took place in Bandipora town was in July 2020 when a BJP leader Waseem Bari, his father and brother were killed.
“Today at about 1715hrs, terrorists fired upon a Police party near Gulshan Chowk area of Bandipora. Senior police officers along with reinforcement reached at the terror crime spot,”Police said.
“Preliminary investigation has revealed that terrorists had fired upon police party of Police Station Bandipora near Gulshan chowk area of Bandipora in which two police personnel SgCt Muhammad Sultan and Ct Fayaz Ahmad received critical gunshot injuries. Both the injured were shifted to nearby hospital for treatment of their injuries, however both of them succumbed to their injuries and attained martyrdom.”
“Police have registered a case in this regard under relevant sections of law. Investigation is in progress and officers continue to work to establish the circumstances which lead to this terror crime. Area has been cordoned off and search in the area is going on,”Police added.