J-K: Two policemen killed as militants attack NC leader's house

Two police personnel were on Sunday killed when militants opened fire at the house of a ruling National Conference youth leader in Pulwama, the first terror attack targeting election activities in Jammu and Kashmir this year.

The security forces eliminated one of the two assailants in the ensuing gunbattle. Shohda (martyrs') Brigade, believed to be a shadow outfit of militant group Lashkar-e-Tayiba, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Militants opened fire at the residence of Yawar Masoodi, who is organiser of NC's youth wing in South Kashmir, at Khrew in Pulwama, 35 kms from here, this afternoon, police said.

Two policemen -- head constable Abdul Hamid and Constable Vinod Kumar -- posted on guard duty were injured in the attack. They were rushed to a nearby hospital where they were declared dead on arrival.

A senior police officer said militants opened fire at the residence of Yawar Masoodi, a youth leader of the NC killing two cops on the spot and decamped with their weapons.

“In a swift reaction by 50 Rashtriya Rifle of the army, along with the Central Reserve Police Force and the special operations group of the police, two terrorists were trapped and successfully eliminated. Two AK- 47 were recovered along with snatched weapons. Both terrorists were of foreign origin,” a defence spokesman said.

“In the recent history of counter terrorist operations, this was the most swiftly launched response, eliminating both the terrorists and recovering weapon snatched by terrorists from the martyred policemen,” the spokesman added.

The attack took place when Masoodi was holding a party meeting at his residence, a spokesman for National Conference said.

The security forces chased the militants and engaged them in nearby fields, police said adding one militant was killed. The other militant involved in the attack was still holding up till last reports came in, the police said.

This is the first militant attack targeting election-related activity in Kashmir since the schedule for Lok Sabha polls was announced by the Election Commission.

With inputs from PTI