Head Constable Shot Dead by Armed Attacker in Anantnag, Hunt Launched
Anantnag, KNT: Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi of Jammu and Kashmir Police was shot dead by a an armed attacker in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Wednesday in an attack that has ended a prolonged spell of relative calm during the ongoing annual Amarnath Yatra.
The attack took place around 12:30 p.m. on the Anantnag-Kokernag road. Qureshi, a resident of Lalpora in Beerwah, Budgam district, was deployed for Amarnath Yatra security duty.
Reports said the policeman had entered a nearby shop. Moments after stepping out, a youth approached him from behind and fired at close range with a gun wrapped in a cotton bag. The critically injured policeman collapsed on the spot, while the assailant fled immediately after the attack. Only a few people were present in the area at the time of the incident.
Qureshi was rushed to Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital, Anantnag, where doctors declared him dead.
Security forces immediately rushed reinforcements to the area and launched a massive search operation to trace the attacker.
The incident comes despite heightened security arrangements for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage and marks the first such attack after a prolonged lull in militant violence in the Valley.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the attack and said he had spoken to Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat to review the situation.
“My heartfelt condolences to the family of Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi, who sacrificed his life in the line of duty. The whole country stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the family of the martyr. I strongly condemn this cowardly attack. This heinous act will not go unpunished. J&K Police and our security forces are on the ground and will bring those responsible to justice,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also paid tribute to the slain policeman. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of his visit to Beerwah, he described the attack as unfortunate and termed it a cowardly act. He said such attacks would not weaken the resolve of the security forces and expressed confidence that the perpetrators would be identified and brought to justice.
Meanwhile, Kashmir Police cautioned the public against circulating a video on social media falsely claiming to be CCTV footage of the attack. Police clarified that the video was misleading and noted that it had subsequently been removed from the social media page on which it had been posted.
Investigation into the attack is underway while security forces continue efforts to track down the assailant. [KNT]
