Militants attack police post guarding a mosque in Kashmir, kill one cop

SRINAGAR: A policeman and a physically-challenged civilian were today killed when militants attacked a police post meant for guarding a mosque and a 'mazaar' (shrine) in Sopore, about 52 kms from here in Jammu and Kashmir.

The unidentified militants opened fire on the police post outside the shrine of Sultan-ul Arifin Makhdoom Sahib and the adjacent mosque in Tujjar Sharief area of Sopore in Baramulla district, a police officer said.

He said a policeman Constable Fayaz Ahmad and a physically-challenged civilian Abdul Rahim Lone were injured in the militant attack. Both of them succumbed to injuries while being evacuated to hospital, the officer said.

He said militants snatched the INSAS rifle of the slain policeman before fleeing. A hunt has been launched to nab the militants and recover the stolen weapon, he said.

No militant outfit has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

Today's attack near a mosque comes five days after worshippers of a mosque were targeted by militants in Shopian area.

On August 13, militants had planted a grenade outside a mosque in Trenz locality of Shopian, 52 kms from Srinagar, which exploded, injuring 10 civilians.

Meanwhile, ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and Member Parliament Mehbooba Mufti strongly condemned the attack and subsequent killing of two persons - a policeman and a civilian.

"Violence in any form is unacceptable, and there is no place for innocent killings in a civilized society," Mehbooba said in a statement here.

She said no religion allows such "dastardly acts of violence" which lead to spilling of innocent blood and bring enormous tragedies to the families of the victims.

Expressing solidarity with the bereaved families, she prayed for the everlasting peace of the departed souls.