2 cops killed, dozens of terrorists on prowl in Srinagar

SRINAGAR: At least one dozen terrorists were on the prowl in Srinagar, while two policemen were killed in two separate terror strikes — one near the Charar-e-Sharief shrine in central Kashmir’s Budgam district and another outside the house of a Hurriyat Conference member at Soura here — on Sunday, an official said.
The city was on high alert following reports of around one dozen armed terrorists had sneaked into Srinagar. Security forces launched checking of vehicles and frisking of individuals on the streets. Intelligence agencies have also informed security forces that there are armed terrorists waiting to enter the state from across the LoC to carry out attacks on security and government installations.

Budgam SSP Tejinder Singh said terrorists opened fire at a policeman, identified as Kultair Singh, guarding the Charar-e-Sharief shrine and fled with his service rifle. He later died of his injuries at the military hospital. “Kultair Singh suffered injuries and was rushed to a military hospital where he died, the SSP said.

Srinagar SPP Imtiyaz Ismail Parray said terrorists killed the police guard on duty at the house of Fazal Haq Qureshi, a Hurriyat member, and fled the spot with his service rifle. “The policeman has been identified as Farooq Ahmad Yatoo. Qureshi was injured in a terror attack in 2009, leaving him paralyzed,” Parray said.

Qureshi has distanced himself from the secessionist activities following attacks on him. He had played a key role in bringing Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, including Majid Dar, into the talks table with the Union home ministry in July 2000. Qureshi had accompanied Hizbul ‘commanders’ to the Nehru Guest House in Srinagar for talks with the then special secretary BK Kaushal in August 2000. Dar was present at the talks. Later, he was killed by Pakistani terrorists at Sopore. Hizbul chief Syed Salahuddin had also disowned Dar’s move.