Militants attack police post near mosque in Sopore, kill cop & civilian

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.