Militants disfigured faces of cops slain in Achabal ambush: Police

SRINAGAR: The militants who ambushed a police party at Achabal in Anantnag district of South Kashmir today disfigured the faces of the six cops slain in the attack before walking away with their weapons, police said.

A sub-inspector, identified as Pulwama-resident Feroz, a driver and four other policemen, who were on a routine round in their jeep, died in the attack, Director General of Police S P Vaid told PTI here.

Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashker-e-Taiba is believed to be behind the ambush, a senior police official said, adding they wanted to take revenge for the Arwani encounter in which their local commander, Junaid Mattoo, is believed to have died.

The encounter at Arwani in Bijbehara area broke out this morning and all the three militants are believed to be dead. No bodies have been recovered so far.

Army has been moved out and was combing the area, officials said.