Srinagar, Aug 24: Suspected militants Friday afternoon attacked the personnel of Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police (JKAP) at Jamia Masjid here and snatched rifle from a constable, police said. However, police said the weapon was retrieved later by overpowering the militants who managed to escape.
Sources in police said that soon after Friday prayers, unknown militants, whose number was two to three, attacked a constable who was part of police guard and snatched his rifle.
The constable was hit in the head by the suspected militants and he was injured.
Police said that soon after the incident, the other constables on guard duty raised a hue and cry and in the meanwhile people assembled at the spot. “They (constables and people) chased the militants and were successful in retrieving the rifle in Bohri Kadal area,” police said adding that the militants fled away leaving behind a pistol.
The incident created panic in the area. The shopkeepers downed their shutters and people were inquiring about the incident from each other.
Police spokesman here said the people who attacked the cops were militants. “In a valiant response against the militants, local youth chased fleeing militants who had snatched a rifle from a police guard at Jamia Masjid, Srinagar,” the spokesman said.
He said the militants, taking advantage of huge crowd who had thronged the Jamia Masjid on Friday, hit the constable on head with a pistol. He fell unconscious in the sudden assault. “The militants fled away after taking the service rifle of the injured constable,” he said.
The spokesman said a police constable who was supported by local youth chased the militants. “At Bhori Kadal the fleeing militants were overpowered and the Insas rifle was recovered from them. Police also seized a Chinese pistol and four rounds. However, the militants fled from the spot,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 24 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 24 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 25 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST