Srinagar- A railway policeman and a non-local resident on Friday were shot dead by militants in two separate attacks in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
Railway constable Bantu Sharma was fired upon by unidentified militants near Shemford School in Wanpoh area of the district on Friday evening, officials said. In the militant attack, Sharma sustained serious injuries.
He was removed to a nearby hospital in critical condition. However, the doctors there declared him dead on arrival, officials said.
Soon after Sharma’s killing, a joint team of police and paramilitary reached the area and launched a manhunt to nab the assailants, reports said.
According to the reports, the joint team questioned many passerby about the identity of the militants involved in the attack.
In a statement issued here this evening, a police spokesperson said that preliminary investigation has revealed that “terrorists” had fired indiscriminately upon police personnel Bantu Sharma son of Trilokinath Sharma resident of Wanpoh Kulgam near Shemford School Wanpoh around 6:00pm Friday
“In this terror incident, he had sustained grievous bullet injuries and was shifted to hospital for the treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries,” he said.
“Police has registered a case in this regard under relevant sections of law. Investigation is in progress and officers continue to work to establish the full circumstances of this terror crime,” he added.
Meanwhile, barely hours after Sharma’s killing, suspected militants shot dead a non-local labourer in Neehama area of the district.
35-year-old Shankar Choudary of Bihar was shot in the head by suspected militants in Neehama area on Friday evening, officials said. He was removed to the district hospital Kulgam where doctors declared him brought dead.
Dr Muzaffar Zargar, Medical Superintendent District hospital Kulgam, was quoted by a local news agency as saying that Choudary had received bullet injuries in his head.
“He was brought dead,” Zargar said.
Meanwhile, mainstream parties, including National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemned the killing of policeman.
In a statement issued here, NC President Dr. Farooq Abdullah condemned the “brutal” killing of a railway police constable and expressed heartfelt sympathies with his family and friends.
In a tweet, his son Omar Abdullah said, “I unequivocally condemn the militant attack in Kulgam. My heartfelt condolences to the family and colleagues of Constable Bantoo Sharma of Railway Protection Force who was killed in the line of duty. May his soul rest in peace,”
PDP President Mehbooba Mufti also expressed anguish over the killing
“Very sorry to hear about the terrorist attack in Kulgam today that claimed yet another innocent life. Deepest condolences & prayers with Bantoo Sharma ji’s family. May his soul rest in peace,” Mehbooba wrote on her official Twitter handle.
“Strongly condemn the killing of a police man in Kulgam. May Allah give patience to the family of Bantu Sharma to bear this loss. And May the killers rot in hell,” Sajad Lone, People’s Conference Chairman wrote on his Twitter handle.
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