JeM affiliate attacked police bus: Kashmir IGP

The attack on a police vehicle in which three policemen were killed and 11 others injured was planned and executed by Kashmir Tigers, an affiliate of Jaish-e-Mohammed, said inspector general of police in Kashmir Vijay Kumar on Tuesday.

Kumar said three militants were involved in the attack on the vehicle of the 9th battalion of the armed police, two Pakistanis and one local militant, who had conducted recce in the area to understand the daily routine of the police vehicle.

Kumar spoke to media persons at the wreath laying ceremony of the third policeman, Rameez Ahmad Baba, who succumbed to injuries on Tuesday morning.


"Twenty-five policemen were travelling in the vehicle and were just 300 metres away from their camp. It was dark and three terrorists of Jaish-e-Mohammed opened indiscriminate fire at the vehicle in which 14 of our men were injured," said Kumar.

He said three policemen died in the attack and that the rest were out of danger.

Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for the attack.

Kumar said the militant group had planned to snatch weapons but failed to do so. "Our men have retaliated and fired at the terrorists in which at least one of them was injured. We have followed his blood trail and he has managed to reach the Tral area via Khrew and Pampore areas. We will soon neutralise this group," he said.

Kumar said the road opening party guarding the street had withdrawn when the attack took place and there were no street lights either. "We will extend the duration of road opening parties, post a bullet-proof vehicle and ensure proper lighting of the street as well," he said.

Meanwhile, the army and J&K police killed a Pakistani infiltrator in Behramgala area of Poonch on Tuesday, and said they had recovered an AK-47 rifle, four magazines, one grenade and some Indian currency. He is the eighth militant to have been killed in the area.

"Pakistan-trained and sponsored foreign terrorist was first detected in August this year. He is probably part of Pakistan's efforts to revive terrorism in south of Pir Panjal region. While the terrorist and his accomplice have been on the run, taking shelter in deep jungles for past few months, their need for food, clothing and communication (mobile) forced them to contact civilian population," said an army official, who did not wish to be identified.

The infiltrators got isolated and moved away from civilian populated areas, he said.

"The army and police launched an operation on receiving specific input from locals in Behramgala area... terrorists attempted to get away by opening fire on security forces, but this foreign terrorist was eliminated in return fire by the security forces, while his accomplice is on the run," said an official.