3 security men, LeT top commander among nine killed in J

Srinagar, July 19 (UNI) A top commander of Pakistan based Lashker-e- Toiba (LeT) and three security personnel were among nine people killed and a police constable injured in the state overnight, official sources said today.

Militants struck thrice in Srinagar, the summer capital of the state and killed two police constables and wounded another critcally.

The first incident took place at Hazratbal where hundreds of devotees ran for safety after a Jammu and Kashmir police constable was fired at by militants at 1145 hrs.

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

The injured constable, Karamjit Singh was rushed to hospital where he was declared brought dead.

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

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

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

Militants shot at and critically wounded a state police constable Mohammad Ramzan at Ganta-Ghar near historic Lal Chowk at 1600 hrs.

He was admitted to a hospital and his condition is said to be critical.

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