Militants on Saturday morning carried out a deadly IED blast in Sopore town of Baramulla district, killing four policemen including an officer. The IED attack took place at around 10:05 a.m. at Gole Market near main chowk of Sopore.
The incident occurred when the town was observing shutdown to mark the anniversary of Sopore Massacre of 6 January 1993 when 57 civilians were killed by Border Security Force and the town was set on fire.
According to additional director general of police Muneer Khan, who rushed to Sopore immediately after the attack, the Improvised Explosive Device was ‘placed beneath a shop’.
The slain policemen have been identified as ASI Irshad Ahmad of Doda, constableGhulamNabi of RohamaRafiabad, constable Muhammad Amin of SogamKupwara and constable Parvaiz Ahmad of VilgamHandwara.
The explosion was so powerful that seven shops were fully damaged at Gole Market which belonged to Abdul Rashid Hakim, Aijaz Ahmad Lone, Fayaz Ahmad, Bashir Ahmad Matoo, Muhammad Amin, Javid Ahmad Baba and Muhammad YousufWani.
Besides the shops, windows of scores of residential houses were damaged in the blast.
Soon after the attack, army, paramilitary forces and police launched searches to nab the attackers and sealed all entry points towards main chowk area.
Additional forces were rushed to the area and several areas were cordoned to nab the militants.
Militant outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad has claimed responsibility for the attack.
In a statement issued to news agency GNS, Jaish-e-Mohammad spokesperson said, “The Shaheed Afzal Guru squad carried out the attack.”
Talking to media persons, ADGP Muneer Khan said, “Since 2015 there had been no IED blasts in Kashmir. However in order to deal with the new situation after today’s blast, we need to sit together and chalk out some strategy.”
A wreath laying ceremony was held at District Police Lines Sopore where Muneer Khan led police officers and men in paying tributes to the slain policemen.
Among others who presented wreaths and flowers included IGP Armed AhfadulMujtaba, SSP SoporeHarmeet Singh, SSP BaramullaImtiyazHussain, COs of 22 RR and 179 Bn CRPF and all DySsP of the district.