Pulwama: An under detention Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed and a policeman sustained injuries in a grenade blast at police station in Tral area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Monday, police said.

The under custody Hizbul Mujahideen militant, as per police, was trying to escape while wearing a ‘burka’ when ‘someone’ to divert attention of the police lobbed a grenade however, it killed the militant, police said.

“Today at 12:30 pm one Hizbul mujahideen militant Mushtaq Chopan who was in custody of Police Station Tral, tried to escape from the police station wearing a burka .When he was near the main gate someone from outside lobbed a grenade as a part of the planned conspiracy to divert the attention of the police so that he could escape conveniently. The grenade exploded inside the station near him resulting into death of the said detenue and injury to one Constable identified as Mehraj Din,” a police spokesman said.

The injured cop, who is all also from Pulwama district was shifted to army hospital, where his condition is said to be stable.

“Magisterial enquiry has been initiated under Sec 176 CrPc. The circumstances under which he was escaping are being looked into. Mushtaq Shah was invoked in FIR no 55/2017 u/s 18, 20,38 ULAO PS Tral , FIR no 76/2017 u/s 302 Rpc 7/27 Arms act , 18,20 ULAP PS Tral,” police said.

Pertinently, Mushtaq Chopan was apprehended by Sopore police and was involved in FIR NO 10 / 2018, Under section ,7/27 Arms Act, Police Station Sopore.

“Currently the said militant was on custody change as he was wanted by Awantipora police,” police said.

Meanwhile, soon after the killing of under custody militant spread in Tral and its adjacent areas, shopkeepers lowered their shutters and vehicles vanished from the roads triggering an instant shutdown in the area.

Further, clashes were also reported from bus stand Tral after vehicles of forces were targeted by angry. However, police retaliated by using tear smoke shells.

Protests also rocked Wagad village of Tral, the native village of the slain militant after the news of his killing reached the area. Thousands of people including women and children reached to participate in the funeral prayers of the slain militant, reports said.

Pertinently, this is the third attack on the police in the past 24 hours.

Two policemen were killed in separate attacks by militants in the Chrar-e-Sharief area of Budgam district and the Soura area of the city yesterday.

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