A police constable was killed and another injured when suspected militants attacked a police party near Mehandi Kadal area of Anantnag district in South Kashmir. The attack took place just 500 yards away from the venue that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to attend today.

According to a police official, militants attacked a police party near Mehandi Kadal area after they fired on the party using automatic weapons.

The attack left a cop identified as Imtiyaz Ahmad critically injured. However, the cop was shifted to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Police said that the attack left another cop injured. The injured cop has been identified as constable Shabir Ahmad.

Police said that Imtiyaz Ahmad is survived by aged parents, a sister and two brothers.

Pertinently, a police vehicle was torched yesterday after people protesting the persecution of Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims clashed with police in Anantnag. Six people including two officers of Jammu and Kashmir police were injured in the incident.

Reports said that the security forces immediately cordoned off the area and launched a search operation in the area to nab the militants who attacked the cops from close range.

Meanwhile, two militants were believed to be killed in another gunfight that started at Imam Sahib area of Shopian district on Saturday evening.

According to a police officer, two to three militants attacked an army vehicle in between Warbug and Imam Sahib this evening. The fire was retaliated by the forces, ensuing a gun fight.

In the initial exchange of gun fire two militants are said to have been killed. When reports last came in the operation in the area was going on.

Meanwhile, a heavy exchange of fire was going on in the area when this report was being filed.                      

Reports said that Tariq Ahmad Bhat along with Altaf Ahmad and a Pakistani militant are trapped in the encounter.

Pertinently, in the morning the forces had launched a cordon and search operation in the village. However, the cordon was lifted later.

Earlier, authorities have put security forces on high alert ahead of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to South Kashmir district of Anantnag. The HM is scheduled to address police personnel and other para military troopers during a function.

Official sources said fresh advisory has been issued to field commanders to remain extra alert in the entire south Kashmir, where security forces have been deployed in strength to foil any militant attack.

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