Kupwara: A policeman was killed after a sentry posted at a temple in the main town Handwara, here, fired at him late last night suspecting him to be “an anti-national element”, police said on Wednesday.
A police official said that the deceased policeman had gone for a night stay there and he had tried to enter the temple forcibly in the midnight.
He said that the sentry guarding the main entry post challenged him by firing in the air but he did not respond, which led the sentry to fire at him, because he suspected a possible militant attack.
Preliminary investigation suggests that the deceased might have worn an earphone due to which he could not hear and respond to the repeated calls of the sentry, he added.
The deceased was immediately evacuated to District Hospital Handwara where the doctors sensing his condition to be critical, referred him to SKIMS Soura.
He succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS Wednesday early morning.
The deceased has been identified as Vijay Dhar son of late Krishen Lal Dhar of Langate Handwara who was serving in the police department for more than a decade.
Meanwhile, DIG North Kashmir Sujit Kumar Singh in a statement said, “In an unfortunate incident last night one policeman posted at police station Handwara Ajay Dhar succumbed to the bullet injury he got while trying to forcefully enter into the temple in midnight (sic).”
“The sentry assuming it an attack by anti-national elements (ANEs) opened fire,” he added.
Police have registered a case and set investigation into motion.