Another Councilor injured; Local Lashkar militant involved in act, Says IGP Vijay Kumar; Orders suspension of 4 PSO’s of protected persons present at incident site, Police starts probe, checks CCTV footage for more clues: SSP Sopore
Sopore, Mar 29: A Municipal Councilor and a Cop were killed in a hit-and-run militant attack in Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Monday, while as another Councilor sustained injuries and is battling for life.
A police spokesman told news agency that at 1.10 pm, Sopore Police received information about an incident near SDH Sopore where militants had attacked Municipal Councilors.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that militants had fired indiscriminately upon the Municipal Councilors near Lone Building opposite SDH Sopore resulting in injuries to two Municipal Councilors namely Reyaz Ahmad Pir and Shams-ud-din Pir and a police personnel namely Shafqat Nazir.
“However, among the injured Councilor Reyaz Ahmad and police personnel Shafqat Ahmad succumbed to their injuries. Another injured councilor has been shifted to hospital for treatment of his injuries,” the police spokesman said.
The main focus of meeting was today’s attack by the militants in Sopore Town and the necessary security measures to be taken to counter such attacks. “While interacting with the officers, the IGP Kashmir urged upon the participating officers that it is of crucial importance to enhance security of vulnerable persons and to take all necessary measures to thwart away the nefarious designs of militants,” the police statement said.
Preliminary investigation indicates that a local militant Mudasir Pandit of LeT along with a foreign militant are involved in the said attack. However, further investigations are rigorously going on. “IGP Kashmir also took serious note of the poor and inappropriate retaliation by the PSOs of protected persons present on spot and directed SSP Sopore to put four PSOs under suspension,” the statement said.
Police have registered a case in this regard under relevant sections of law and officers continue to work to establish the full circumstances of this crime. “Cordon and search operations at various locations are going on to nab the assailants,” the statement said.
The IGP Kashmir told KNO that two militants including a foreign and a local militant were involved in Sopore attack. “Local militant of LeT outfit Mudasir Pandit and a foreign militant were involved in the attack, however, further investigation was going on,” he said. “IGP Kashmir visited Sopore and inspected the crime scene and held a meeting with Army’s sector commander, DIG CRPF and SSP Sopore.”
The Kashmir police chief said that he directed the SSP Sopore to suspend four PSOs of protected persons who were present there and did not retaliate. He also said that cordon and search operations have been launched at two locations in the area.
Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police Sopore, Sudhanshu Verma Monday said they have accessed the CCTV footage and it was being looked into.
Meanwhile, block medical officer Dr. Rudhiyana told KNO that two persons were brought dead to the hospital and the other was critically injured. “The critically injured was shifted to SMHS Hospital in Srinagar”, she said.
Earlier, police in a Tweet said: “Terrorists fired at Municipal Office Sopore. In this terror incident, police personnel Shafqat Ahmad & councilor Riyaz Ahmad got martyred & councilor Shams-ud-din Peer got injured. Injured shifted to hospital for treatment. Area cordoned off & further details shall follow.” (KNO)
