IGP's driver, constable killed, another wounded in Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 17 (UNI) Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants shot dead two Jammu and Kashmir police personnel, including a driver of an Inspector General of Police (IGP) in separate incidents here today, official sources said.

Head constable Vikram Singh, driver of IGP, Kashmir S M Sahai, was shot at and critically wounded by militants from point blank range near the general bus stand at Batmaloo here, they added.

He was immediately rushed to a hospital where he was declared brought dead, the sources said.

In the second incident near the historic Hazratbal shrine, housing the holy relic of the Prophet Mohammad, militants shot at and wounded constable Dilawar Ahmed at the Telbal Morh on the city outskirts.

He was rushed to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in a critical condition where he succumbed to his wounds.

The Pakistan based JeM has claimed the responsibility for both the attacks. A person, who claimed to be the spokesman of the outfit, telephoned the local media here and owned the responsibility of the attacks on policemen.

Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a hunt to nab the attackers.

During the past few days, militants have targeted policemen in the city. On Sunday, a police constable was killed and another critically wounded in the busy Lal Chowk area here.

A report from Baramulla said suspected militants fired upon a party of the Special Operation Group (SOG) near their camp at Sopore this afternoon, causing serious injury to a constable, Farooq Ahmad.

He was hospitalised, the sources said.

UNI BAS SK KP1815