Politics

Police party ambushed by LeT in Anantnag, 6 policemen including SHO dead

6 policemen including the SHO ambushed and killed

June 17, 2017

LeT suspected in the ambushing and killing of 6 policemen in Anantnag

Terrorists disfigured their faces before looting their weapons

[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]T[/dropcap]aking a cue from ruthless Maoists over one dozen heavily armed Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists Friday ambushed six policemen including Station House Officer (SHO) near Thajiwar area of Achabal in Anantnag. This is the second bloody strike on a police party in a span of six weeks in South Kashmir district of Anantnag.

The manner in which a group of heavily armed LeT terrorists ambushed a police party on Achabal-Anantnag road it clearly suggested several layers of security were breached by the terrorists without facing any resistance.

The attack has sent out a chilling reminder to the men in uniform that they are on the hit list of terrorist outfits and would continue to be targeted.

The terrorists later escaped along with their weapons without facing any resistance.

Highly placed police officials claimed the terrorists had also disfigured faces of policemen by shooting them from close range in their faces.

The terrorists had reportedly overpowered policemen and looted their weapons before killing them in cold blood.

Earlier on May 1, five policemen and two bank guards were killed by terrorists by targeting a cash van in Phambai area of Kulgam in South Kashmir. The cash van was returning after dispensing cash to local bank branches when it was attacked.

Ground reports claimed a police party consisting of six men including SHO identified as Feroze Ahmed, driver and four guards were returning to Achabal when they were intercepted by terrorists near Kulgad village on Achabal-Anantnag road.

First, a grenade was hurled at the policemen by terrorists and soon it was followed by a heavy volume of firing from all sides.

A section of police officers in Kashmir Valley claimed it was a revenge attack on police party as it took place shortly after security forces killed two LeT militants in a fierce gunfight in Arwani area of Anantnag.

A large number of local residents also clashed with security forces to allow safe passage to the holed up terrorists.

Lashkare-Taiba (LeT) commander Junaid Matto and a foreign militant were reportedly killed in the encounter. Two houses were completely damaged during the gunfight, police said.

Internet services suspended

Internet services and interstate train services were also suspended in south Kashmir as local police authorities were anticipating more unrest in the coming days.

All varsities have cancelled examinations scheduled for Saturday as the authorities are likely to impose restrictions to contain the protests. Separatists have also called for a shutdown on Saturday.

Bloodbath in Ramzan?

The holy month of Ramzan is witnessing bloodbath from May 27. Not a single day has passed when an incident of militant violence was not reported from different parts of KASHMIR valley. Ramzan this year started on a bloody note. On day 1 six infiltrators were killed along the line of control in Rampur sector of Baramulla. Same day Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sansar Ahmad Bhat was killed leading to street protests. Over 120 incidents of stone pelting have been recorded in this month so far. The line of control is equally volatile and witnessing cross-border firing on almost daily basis.

Security breach led to the ambush of police party?

The manner in which a group of heavily armed LeT terrorists ambushed a police party on Achabal-Anantnag road it clearly suggested several layers of security were breached by the terrorists without facing any resistance. The fact that they travelled on the highway and later escaped unhurt clearly exposes the tall claims of the security forces about beefing up security along the vulnerable sections of the highways in South Kashmir. The attack also establishes the fact that it is the writ of the terrorists and not the security forces which is at work.

The police party ambushed by terrorists was not travelling in a bullet proof vehicle.

Omar targets Mehbooba Mufti

The incident saw an immediate reaction from political parties including former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah who blamed the PDP-BJP government led by Mehbooba Mufti for the present crisis.

“It seems that South Kashmir is slipping every day from the hands of the state government. I hope somebody in New Delhi wakes up now,” Omar said.

CPM leader Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami said the incidents in South Kashmir were a clear example of lawlessness prevailing in the entire area. State Congress chief G A Mir said it was a very sad incident. “It shows that the state government has completely failed in controlling the situation. I wonder when will the Union Home Ministry wake up,” Mir said.

STATE POLICE CHIEF SAYS MILITANTS ARE FRUSTRATED

The escalation in militant attacks on Jammu and Kashmir police personnel is because of the “frustration” of the ultras, director general of police SP Vaid said today.

“We will take necessary measures. This is the frustration of the militants. Whether a militant is killed or a civilian or a cop, it is the Kashmiri who dies. The bloodshed will not take us anywhere, it is only the murder of humanity,” the DGP told reporters here. He said the militants were targeting the local police as it was fighting them with eagerness.

“The local police works on the anti-militancy front with eagerness, that is why they (militants) are targeting them (police). But I am sure that we will control this soon,” the DGP said.