2 police killed in Hazratbal

Srinagar, July 19: Two police constables were killed by militants in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir today.

Hundreds of devotees ran for safety after a Jammu and Kashmir police constable was killed by militants near Hazratbal shrine.

Official sources said a group of unidentified militants shot at a police constable from close range near police station at Hazratbal shrine when a large number of devotees were heading towards the shrine, housing the holy relic of Prophet Mohammad.

The injured police constable Karanjit Singh was rushed to hospital where he was declared brought dead.

Thousands of people from all over the valley are expected to visit the shrine today on the occasion of death anniversary of Hazrat Abubakar, first of the four companions of Prophet Mohammad.

Another police constable was shot at by militants near a crowded fruit mandi at Soura on Srinagar-Amarnath route this afternoon.

The injured constable was immediately shifted to nearby Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS) where he died before doctors could attend to him.

UNI