Terrorists abduct, murder Cop

SFs attacked twice, gunfight near LoC, 2 LeT OGWs held

SRINAGAR: In what have become a new low in Kashmir, terrorists on Saturday murdered yet another policeman before abducting him from his residence in Kulgam, even as two security forces personnel were injured in twin attacks carried out by terrorists in Anantnag and Kulgam.

A gunfight also broke out between infiltrators and security forces near Line of Control (LoC) in Tanghdar sector of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, while police arrested two Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of LeT outfit and recovered huge cache of ammunition from their possession in Sopore, all of this on Saturday.

The bullet-ridden body of a police constable, who was abducted by terrorists- apparently by Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) ultras- from his residence in Kulgam district, was found Saturday morning.

“Terrorists today killed a policeman Mohammad Saleem Shah son of Abdul Gani Shah resident of Mutalhama Kulgam after he was abducted from his home the previous night,” a police spokesperson said.

Constable Shah, who was on leave and had come home on leave from police training school in Kathua, was abducted from his residence in Mutalhama area of Kulgam in south Kashmir last night.

The body of the martyred policeman was recovered from a nursery near village Redwani Payeen in the jurisdiction of Police Station Wanpoh. The body bore severe torture marks indicating that he was brutally tortured to death by the terrorists.

Police said Shah had joined the services in 2016 and after completing his basic training, was posted to DPL Pulwama.

The slain cop is survived by aged parents, two brothers and one unmarried sister and was the lone bread-earner for his family, the official said.
He said a case has been registered and efforts were underway to nab the killers.

Initial investigation has indicated that it was the handiwork of proscribed terror outfit HM, the spokesman said, adding, "we condemn such gruesome terror act and assure that the culprits shall be brought to justice."

About half a dozen police personnel besides two soldiers, including an officer, were abducted and later killed by militants in south Kashmir during the past one year.

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the act.

“The murder of Mohd Saleem is barbaric & unacceptable. I condemn his killing in the strongest possible terms. May his soul rest in peace & may his family find strength at this difficult time,” he tweeted.

Meanwhile, terrorists today opened fire on security forces at two places in Anantnag and Kulgam districts, police said.

In the first attack, the terrorists fired upon a CRPF party at Bumzoo Mattan area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, injuring its two personnel.
Official sources said that a CRPF patrol party near Bumzoo shrine was fired upon by suspected terrorists, in which two CRPF troopers were injured.
He said the attack was repulsed by the forces and they launched searches to nab the assailants.

In the second incident, the terrorists attacked a patrolling party of the Army between Hawoorah and Redwani villages in Kulgam district, an official said.
Official sources said that terrorists fired upon a patrolling party of first Rashtriya Rifles at Hawoora Redwani in Kulgam district.

He said the firing was retaliated by the forces. There are no reports of any loss of life, the official said.

Meanwhile, a gunfight broke out near Line of Control (LoC) in Tanghdar sector of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Saturday.

Reports said that army’s 6 Gadhwal and a group of terrorists had a stand-off in the dense woods of Balthedyan along the LoC adjacent to Tony Post today morning.

An official said that the troops today morning launched the cordon-and-search operation in the area following specific inputs about the presence of some terrorists.

As the forces intensified the searches, the group of terrorists believed to be infiltrators opened fire triggering off a gunfight. “Additional reinforcement has also been rushed to the site”.

Again, Police on Saturday claimed to have arrested two OGWs of LeT outfit and recovered huge cache of ammunition from their possession.

The spokesman in a statement said that acting on a credible inputs, Sopore Police with the assistance of Army’s 22 RR and 177, 179 Bn, CRPF arrested two active OGWs of LeT outfit namely Tanveer Ahmad Mir, son of Abdul Qayoom Mir and Tanveer Ahmad Najar, son of Ghulam Hassan Najar both residents of Brath Kalan Sopore today on from Dangerpora area.

01 UBGL Grenade, 01 Magazine with 15 rounds of AK47 and 02 matrix sheets were recovered from their possession.

In this regard, a case FIR No. 203/2018 under section 7/25 Arms Act, 13 ULA Act has been registered in Police Station Sopore and investigation has been taken up.