Ali Mohammad Naik, senior leader of the National Conference, was critically wounded when militants ambushed him on Monday morning at Tral, south Kashmir.

Naik, a former member of Parliament, was in his hometown to attend a wedding. Militants sprayed bullets at his vehicle at the bus-stand on his return to Srinagar and killed one of his security guards, a senior police officer said.

"Naik was seriously wounded in the ambush and he is being shifted to Soura Medical Institute for treatment," the officer added.

A head constable, Abdul Ahad, who was injured in the attack later succumbed to his injuries in the SMHS hospital.

Security forces and police immediately rushed to the spot and the area is being searched. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack as of now.