Abid Bashir
Srinagar (NVI): Terrorists tonight abducted a policeman in Kashmir but they were intercepted by security forces soon after, leading to a gunfight in which two militants were killed and the abductee was rescued.
Police constable Sartaj Ahmed Itoo of Yaripora in Kulgam district of South Kashmir was abducted by the militants.
The militants abducted the policeman at Shirpora village following which an immediate cordon was launched by a joint team of Police and Army, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Range, Vijay Kumar (IPS) said.
“Soon, militants were chased at Kharpora, leading to a brief gunfight in which both of them were killed while a policeman was injured, ” he said.
“The joint team successfully rescued the abducted cop,” the IGP added.
Police sources said after the tip-off that the militants along with the abducted cop were traveling in a vehicle, a check post was set up in Arwani area of Bijbehara in Anantnag district.
On sighting the suspect vehicle, the security forces signalled the driver to stop it. But the militants inside the vehicle opened fire and tried to flee.
This triggered a brief shootout in which two militants were killed.
In the exchange of fire, a policeman also sustained injury and was removed to nearby medical facility for treatment.
Sources in the police said that the two slain militants had recently joined militancy and were affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit.
