Srinagar, June 4: In yet another deadly attack in less than 24 hours in South Kashmir, militants Saturday killed two police personnel in Anantnag district from where Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti is contesting the upcoming bye-polls.
Police said militants opened fire at a police party at the General Bus Stand Anantnag at 11.20 am injuring Assistant Sub-Inspector Bashir Ahmad and Constable Reyaz Ahmad who were rushed to a hospital where they succumbed.
Police and Central Reserve Police Force cordoned off the area and carried out search operations. No militant outfit claimed responsibility for the attacks till the reports last poured in.
The attack comes in less than 24 hours when Hizbul Mujahideen militants ambushed a Border Security Force convoy at neighbouring Goriwan area at Bijbehara killing three of its personnel while seven others were wounded.
Security analysts look at Saturday’s attack as an “attempt by the militants to scare the voters” as Mehbooba is seeking her election to the state assembly from here.
The seat, where elections are now scheduled to be held on June 22, had fallen vacant after the death of the then Chief Minister and her father Mufti Muhammad Sayeed on January 7.
Mehbooba is among eight candidates in the fray, while the ninth one MLA Langate Engineer Rashid withdrew the nomination papers this evening.
Opposition National Conference hit out at Peoples Democratic Party-Bharatiya Janata Party government and said “instead of making tall claims of improved ground situation on papers, the state government should do something concrete on ground and ensure safety and security of people”.
Party spokesperson Junaid Azim Mattu said with elections round the corner in the assembly, ongoing tourist season and forthcoming Amarnath Yatra, “One expects that security should be at its best. But every now and then, loopholes within the security establishment stand exposed”.
State Congress chief GA Mir questioned the PDP-BJP government credentials in tackling the law and order situation saying “fear is being created in the mind of the voters and it does not augur well for a healthy democracy”.
Meanwhile, police paid homage to the deceased duo by organizing a wreath laying ceremony at District Police Lines Anantnag.
A police handout said “Director General of Police K Rajendra Kumar led the mourners in the wreath laying ceremony which was attended among others by Inspector General of Police,
Kashmir Zone, SJM Gillani, Deputy Inspector General of Police, South Kashmir Range Nitish Kumar, SSP Anantnag Abdul Jabbar, SSP Kulgam Mohammad Irshad, SP Awantipora Shri Shridhar Patil and hundreds of the civilians.”
“ASI Bashir Ahmad is survived by his wife and 11 years old son while as Constable Reyaz Ahmad Sheikh is survived by 30 years old wife, 11 years old son, 02 daughters of 7, 9 years of age, aged patrents, and an unmarried sister,” the police handout added.
100’s join slain cops’ funeral
ANANTNAG: Hundreds of mourners participated in the last rites of the deceased cops. At Laktipora, the native village of slain ASI Bashir Ahmed said that the deceased was an active member of local Auqaf Committee while at times he used to lead prayers in absence of the recognized religious cleric.
“If killing a cop like Bashir Ahmed is Jihad then we are sorry to say that it is not Jihad and we are not part of it,” said local Auqaf Committee Imam Muhammad Ishaq adding that Bashir Ahmed was a pious Muslim who never harassed any one.
Reports said that a large number of people also participated in the funeral procession of slain cop Reyaz Ahmed Sheikh at Watarsoo Shangus.
No militant outfit claimed the responsibility of the attack.
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