Two non-locals shot at by militants in Kashmir

Two migrant workers were injured after they were shot at by terrorists in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Sunday, police said.

Dheeraj Dutt and Surinder Singh, both residents of Pathankot in Punjab, were attacked by the terrorists in Nowpara Litter area at around 7.10 pm.

“Officers attending the terror crime spot learnt that the terrorists had fired upon two labourers identified as Dheeraj Dutt and Surinder Singh, both residents of Pathankot Punjab,” a police spokesperson said in a statement.

The two workers were immediately shifted to the district hospital for treatment, the spokesperson added.
While Dutt was hit in the leg, Singh was injured in the chest and was later referred to SMHS hospital in Srinagar, officials familiar with the matter said.

A case has been registered and a search is underway to trace the terrorists, police said.
“Officers continue to work to establish the full circumstances of this terror crime. Area has been cordoned and search in the area is going on,” the spokesperson said.

Sunday’s attack comes days after, a labourer from Bihar, Bisujeet Kumar, was shot at by terrorists in Pulwama on March 21.

Two days earlier, on March 19, Mohammad Akram, a carpenter from Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor district, was shot at by terrorists in the district.

The Union territory has also been witnessing an overall rise in terrorist attacks. On March 21, TajamulMohi-ud-din Dar, a local resident, was shot dead by terrorists in Budgam district.
Special police officer Ishfaq Ahmad and his brother, Umar Jan, were killed after terrorists opened fired at them on

March 27. Shabir Ahmad Mir, a sarpanch from south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, was gunned down by terrorists on March 11.

On March 9, an independent sarpanch, Sameer Ahmad Bhat, was shot dead on the outskirts of Srinagar.
A week earlier, terrorists killed an independent panchayat member, Mohammad Yaqub Dar, in Srandoo area of Kulgam.

Terrorists have also attacked off-duty personnel, killing CRPF soldier Mukhtar Ahmad Dohi and army jawan Sameer Ahmad Malla this month.

Last year, civilians, minorities and outsiders were targeted in the Valley, prompting authorities to step up vigil and intensify counter-terror operations in the region.
Meanwhile, two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) modules were busted and five militant associates were arrested in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora district, police said on Sunday.

Based on specific information, police along with security forces arrested four terrorist associates in the north Kashmir district, a police spokesman said.

He identified them as Irfan Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Ashtangoo, Irfan Ahmad Jan, a resident of Qazipora, Sajad Ahmad Mir and Shariq Ahmad Mir, both residents of the Arin area of Bandipora.

Two Chinese grenades and incriminating material were recovered from their possession, the spokesman said.
Preliminary investigation revealed that they were involved in providing mobile sim cards and logistic support to active terrorists in the district, he said.

A case under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigation into the matter is in progress, the spokesman said.

In another incident, police along with security forces arrested one terrorist associate at a checkpoint in the Rakh Hajin area of Bandipora.

He has been identified as Irfan Aziz Bhat, a resident of Hajin, the spokesman said.
One Chinese grenade was recovered from his possession, he said.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the arrested accused was in close contact with Pakistan-based terrorist Umer Lala and was directed to carry out terror attacks in the Hajin area, the spokesman said.
Bhat was also in contact of the killed terrorist Saleem Parray of Hajin, he said.

A case has been registered and further investigation into the matter is underway, police said.
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