Srinagar, Sep 8: Unidentified gunmen shot dead a Special Police Officer and injured a soldier of Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI) in north Kashmir’s Sopore area on Saturday.
Giving details, a senior police officer said that SPO Riyaz–ul-Hassan Mir, 24, son of Ghulam Hassan, presently posted with Special Operations Group (SOG) of Sopore was shot dead, while as Army soldier Tariq Ahmad Mir, 26, son of Muhammad Ramzan was critically injured when gunmen fired upon the duo at Gundbrouth village, 4 kms from Sopore town.
The officer said the duo was on way to Saidapora when the gunmen intercepted them at 3 pm. “The gunmen were hiding in orchards and asked them for their identity card. Soon after ascertaining their identity, the gunmen opened fire on them from a close range with pistols. Riyaz was shot in the abdomen, while Tariq was fired in shoulder,” the officer said. “They were brought to Sopore hospital. Riyaz was declared brought dead while Tariq was shifted to SKIMS and his condition is stated to be critical,” he said and added that Riyaz most probably died on the spot.
Tariq is serving in 5 JAKLI as solider. “He had come on leave and was at home for past more than a month,” sources said. “Riyaz too was on leave for last some days.”
Minutes after the incident, heavy poses of Police and Army reached the spot and carried out searches in the area. “We did not arrest anybody,” police said.

POLICE VERSION:
People of Sopore staged massive protest against the militants after they (militants) shot dead one person and injured another in Sopore area, a police spokesman said in a statement.
He said soon after the incident people came out and staged massive anti-militant protests.
Sopore police have launched a manhunt for the militants. A case has been registered in police station Sopore and investigation taken up, he said. With inputs from Ghulam Muhammad in Sopore

Lastupdate on : Sat, 8 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 8 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 9 Sep 2012 00:00:00 IST