Ultras Strike In Sopore, Civilian Killed, Cop Hurt

Have inputs about attack in Srinagar: DGP
SRINAGAR, Mar 24: Continuing their attacks in Kashmir, militants today struck in the apple rich town of Sopore and carried out an attack on police. A civilian was killed and a cop injured in the incident. Hizbul-Mujahideen has owned the responsibility for the attack.
The incident occurred some days after militants had attacked a BSF convoy at Methan in Srinagar killing one soldier and injuring another. Earlier, the militants had killed five CRPF personnel in a fidayeen attack at Bemina.
Today’s attack at Sopore occurred at a time when security force and police are in a state of high alert in Srinagar city following reports of possible militant strike. Director General of police (DGP) Ashok Prasad told a local news agency, CNS, that police have inputs that militants can strike anywhere and anytime in Srinagar city.
Reports said militants surfaced at Sunday Market in Sopore this afternoon. At that time there was huge rush in the Sunday market because it had re-opened for the first time after the hanging of Mohammad Afzal Guru on February 9. Because of the rush, heavy traffic jamming was witnessed in the town.
As the policemen intervened to clear the traffic jamming at the Iqbal Market, militants attacked them. The firing caused panic in the area with people running helter skelter. A policeman, Kishor Kumar, from Jammu received serious injury and militants snatched his gun also. He had received bullet injuries in his neck and was removed to army hospital in Srinagar, where his condition is said to be critical.
A 60-year old man, Abdul Rashid Dar of Darsoor-Rafiabad also received bullet injuries in the shootout. He was being removed to SKIMS here, but he succumbed to his injury at Pattan. Rashid had received a bullet injury in his head. His son, Mohammad Shafi, said Rashid was a farmer and was in Sopore to buy school uniforms for the kids of his family.
SP Sopore, Mir Imtiaz Hussain told local news agency KNS that policemen observed restraint during the attack and did not open fire to avoid civilian causality. Hizbul-Mujahideen spokesman, Baleeg-ud-Din told the news agency that militants of his group attacked taskforce personnel in Sopore killing one of them and injuring two others.
He added that a civilian was also killed in the cross-firing.
Reports said that after the attack police and security forces cordon off the affected area and conducted a search operation.
Meanwhile, DGP told a local news agency, CNS that police has inputs that militants can strike anytime anywhere in Srinagar.