In a audacious attack, militants killed two cops on duty after they fired upon a deployment party from a narrow street in Nowgam Bypass area of Srinagar city. The incident occurred in Gulshan Nagar area of Srinagar outskirts.Divulging information about the attack, IGP Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar told news agency KNT that police exercised restraint to avoid civilian casualties after militants fired upon deployment party indiscriminately. The attack left three cops injured among which two were declared dead in Police Control Room hospital.The deceased cops were identified as Ishfaq Ayoub of (715) IRP 20 Battalion, resident of Khalora Kulgam and Fayaz Ahmed Malik of (307) IRP 20 Battalion, a resident of Malora Parimpora Srinagar. The injured cop who has sustained bullet injuries in his right hand has been identified as Selection Grade Constable Muhammad Ashraf and he is stable. Area was cordoned off and search operation launched after the onslaught, however, no arrests were made.IGP Vijay Kumar blamed militant outfit Jaish-e-Muhammad for the attack saying the assailants have been identified. “We had inputs that militants may strike anywhere in Srinagar and keeping in this view, we had alerted police and forces personnel.
You can see those who were killed in the attack were in bullet proof vest,” Kumar said.The traffic was disrupted on the bypass after the attack.Kumar refuted the reports that there are any loopholes in the security system. “Police was alert but the militants appeared from the back and fired indiscriminately,” he said.Later on Jammu and Kashmir police chief Dilbagh Singh while talking to Reporters on the sidelines of wreath laying ceremony held at District Police Lines Srinagar also held Jaish militants responsible for the attack. “Police and other agencies are busy identifying the attackers and we will act against them soon,” he said.Singh said that whenever situation improves, militants carry attacks and sometimes they succeed. “Our neighbour doesn’t want peace to prevail in Kashmir.” The police chief said that in coming days anti-militancy operations will be intensified. He said in wake of today’s attack security across Kashmir Valley particularly in Srinagar will be further strengthened. “We will use drones and CCTV fitted vehicles besides physical deployment of our men,” he said. Besides, Dilbagh Singh, IGP Vijay Kumar and Advisor to Governor BR Bhatnagar were also present on the occasion of wreath laying ceremony. Bhatnagar said that everyone stands with the bereaved families while the government shares their pain. (KNT)