Suhail A Shah

Bijbehara, May 15

A policeman was killed and another injured after militants opened fire at a police vehicle at Bijbehara town of Anantnag district on Tuesday.The slain cop has been identified as Special Police Officer (SPO) Bilal Ahmad Shah of Verinag in Anantnag district while the injured has been identified as Head Constable Abdul Rasheed Munshi of the Ganderbal area. The shootout took place at about 4 pm along the Srinagar-Anantnag highway in the Pazalpora area. According to police reports, the militants targeted the vehicle (Tata Sumo) of the Bijbehara police station.“The militants opened fire at the vehicle near Pazalpora. It was retaliated by policemen but unfortunately two of our men were seriously injured,” a police officer said, adding that the militants managed to flee from the spot. The injured policemen were rushed to the nearby Sub-District Hospital, Bijbehara, where doctors declared SPO Bilal Ahmad dead. “The Head Constable suffered bullet wounds on his legs. He has been referred to Bone and Joints Hospital in Srinagar. He is out of danger,” Medical Superintendent Showkat said. Later, a wreath-laying ceremony was held for the slain SPO at District Police Lines, Anantnag. Following the shootout, the security forces rushed to the area and a cordon and search operation was launched.