Two cops of Jammu Kashmir Police Department including an Assistant Sub Inspector were killed when suspected militants resorted to indiscriminate firing at KP road in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Saturday. The cops who died on spot were manning traffic on the busy road when at least two militants emerged on spot and shot them dead. A police official identified the deceased cops as Assistant Sub-Inspector Bashir Ahmed Ahangar son of Abdul Aziz a resident of Laktipora Aismuqam and Reyaz Ahmed Sheikh son of Ali Muhammad of Watarso Shangus. Both the deceased cops were posted at police station General Bus Stand Anantnag.Some time after the attack, the photographs showing two suspected militants carrying AK-47 rifles went viral on social networking sites including facebook, twitter and whatsapp. A police official said that both the militants have been identified and all efforts are on to nab them. He however, didn’t disclose their identity.
The attack created panic in the poll bound town where Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is contesting. The attack comes in less than 24 hours when militants of Hizbul Mujahideen ambushed a BSF convoy at neighbouring Goriwan area at Bijbehara killing three of its personnel.Eyewitnesses told CNS that shortly after the attack Police and CRPF cordoned off the area and carried out searches at various places to nab the militants.Hundreds of mourners participated in the last rites of the deceased cops. At Laktipora, the native village of slain ASI Bashir Ahmed told this reporter 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. (CNS)