Srinagar: A policeman was injured during an exchange of fire between militants and security forces in Nawa Kadal area of Srinagar on Sunday evening.
The injured cop has been identified as Muhammad Maqbool, who was being treated for his bullet wounds at SMHS hospital.
The incident took place in Jamalata Nawakadal area of old Srinagar, after police raided a suspected hideout of militants.
“As the suspected spot was being cordoned off, terrorists opened fire, resulting in injuries to the policeman,” a senior police officer told Greater Kashmir. “He was moved to hospital for treatment,” the officer added.
The officer said that area was cordoned off. “A massive search operation is underway in the area,” the officer said, adding that additional reinforcement arrived at the spot.
The incident took place three days after security forces in a joint operation killed a terrorist in Bemina area of Srinagar.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued police said: “Based on specific input about the presence of terrorists in Jamalata area of Nawa Kadal, a raid was carried out by a small party of Srinagar Police,” police said.
“As the team approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists started indiscriminate firing upon them, resulting in injuries to one police personnel, who was evacuated to nearby hospital for the treatment of his injuries,” police said.
The police statement said keeping in view the safety of the civilians and evening rush in the area , the police team exercised maximum restraint.
However, reinforcement of CRPF and police laid cordon on the suspected clusters of houses and search started. Besides, police have registered a case and started investigation into the matter, it added.
Sunday’s attack is the second incident of a targeted attack on police officials in Kashmir during last fortnight. Earlier this week, a 29-year-old policeman was shot dead by terrorists in the Batamaloo area of Srinagar.
“It is pertinent to mention that the killed terrorist is a relative of one of the accused terrorists of Lethpora terror attack and preliminary investigation indicated that he was assigned to carry out a similar kind of fidayeen attack,” police had said last week. “Digital Evidences recovered from his mobile show that he was prepared by terror outfit for fidayeen attack,” police had said.
There has been a spike in incidents of targeted attacks in Srinagar and some parts of Kashmir in recent weeks. Last month, at least 11 civilians, mostly workers from other states and those belonging to minority community, were killed in Kashmir.
It needs to be mentioned here that since about a month the security apparatus in Srinagar are alert after a spike in terror attacks. Over the past few weeks Srinagar city has witnessed a spike in terror attacks. In these attacks victims were shot dead from point blank range mostly with pistols. Security establishments say these attacks are being carried out by hybrid terrorists.
Joint parties of J&K police and Central Reserve Police Force have been carrying out random search operations in Srinagar. During these operations, searches are being carried out and identify cards of people being checked thoroughly.