SRINAGAR: A policeman of the Jammu and Kashmir Police was killed in a brief encounter with terrorists in Soura area of Srinagar city on Tuesday, with terrorists managing to flee the spot.
A terrorist sustained injuries in the shootout but escaped from the spot taking the advantage of a huge rush of commuters, the police said.
The encounter broke out when a small party of policemen in civvies was chasing a group of terrorists who were traveling in a car.
“In a brief shootout at Soura of Srinagar City, SgCT (selection grade constable) Amir Hussain Lone resident of Kupwara got injured and attained martyrdom. We pay rich tributes to the martyr and stand by his family at this critical juncture,” the police said in a tweet.
Police sources said that the police party was chasing terrorists who were on their way to their hideout somewhere in the city. They said they were planning a final assault on terrorists. However, terrorists opened indiscriminate fire on police, leading to the killing of the policeman in the line of duty.
The injured cop was rushed to Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) where he was declared brought dead by doctors. A massive cordon and search operation was launched in the area but to no avail.
The police said that a covert team of Srinagar Police was following the group of terrorists based on a specific input regarding their movement in a vehicle around Soura area.
The police have registered a case under relevant sections of law. “Investigation is in progress,” it said.
Inspector-General of Police, Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar said that the police had got information that three terrorists were roaming in a red-coloured car. “A covert team of police was after them and a brief encounter took place in which a terrorist also received bullet injury. One of our jawans was critically injured. He was taken to a hospital where he achieved martyrdom,” he said.
“We regret this, but we will soon neutralise the group. This was a LeT group consisting of Basit, who became the commander after the killing of Mehran. There was Rehan also in the group,” he said.
The police officer further said that the terrorists’ group was behind the recent killings including in Budgam. “We have been tracking them and will soon neutralise them,” Kumar said.
He said that security forces have neutralised 11 “hardcore” terrorists and arrested 12-13 terrorists in different operations this month.
To pay honour and respect to the deceased, a wreath-laying ceremony led by DGP Dilbag Singh was held at DPL Srinagar. Special DGP CID RR Swain, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar, CRPF IG (Ops) MS Bhatia, DIG (CKR) Sujeet Kumar, SSP Srinagar Rakesh Balwal, SSP PCR Kashmir Zubair Ahmad Khan besides, other officers and officials and family members of Amir Hussain Lone laid floral wreaths on the mortal remains.