3 militants, policeman killed as ultras attack security men

Srinagar: Three militants and a policeman were today killed in a shoot-out after the ultras hurled a grenade and opened fire at security personnel at Qamarwari area here, the second major encounter in Srinagar in just over a month.

“Three militants have been killed while one policeman also laid down his life while battling the ultras,” Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Shiv Murari Sahai told PTI. A civilian Mohammad Maqbool Bhat was also injured in the crossfire and has been hospitalised.

The motorcycle-borne militants, including one believed to be foreigner, hurled a grenade towards security forces at Qamarwari on Srinagar-Baramulla National highway this afternoon. The security personnel retaliated, resulting in the death of all the three militants in the incident, officials said.

Police officials are trying to ascertain the identity and group affiliation of the ultras. One policeman was also killed as he was hit by a bullet in the head, the officials said.

One pistol, one grenade and some other ammunition has been recovered from the spot so far. Earlier, three militants of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit were killed in a fierce gunbattle at Maloora, five kms from Qamerwari area, on October 21.