A police officer was killed and two constables were injured when terrorists attacked a police team in the outskirts of the city on Tuesday, officials said.
The incident happened around 7.15 pm when the terrorists fired upon the police naka at the Lal Bazar area, the officials said.
They said Jammu and Kashmir police assistant sub-inspector Mushtaq Ahmad (56) was killed while constables Fayaz Ahmad and Abu Bakar were injured in the attack.
The injured constables have been rushed to a hospital where their condition is stated to be stable. The officials said a cordon and search operation has been launched in the area to nab the attackers.
"Terrorists fired upon police naka party at Lal Bazar area of #Srinagar city. In this terror incident, three police personnel got injured and they have been shifted to hospital. The area has been cordoned. Further details shall follow," it said.
"ASI Mushtaq Ahmad #succumbed to his injuries & attained #martyrdom. We pay rich #tribute to the #martyr for his supreme #sacrifice made in the line of duty. Other two injured personnel are being treated. Further details shall follow," the Kashmir Zone Police wrote on Twitter.
Political parties and their leaders condemned the attack.
"Deeply saddened to hear about the militant attack on @JmuKmrPolice personnel deployed in Srinagar in which ASI Mushtaq Ahmed lost his life in the line of duty & two others were injured. My condolences to the family of ASI Mushtaq & prayers for the swift recovery of the injured," National Conference vice president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah wrote on Twitter.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti described the attack as gruesome.
"Deeply saddened about the gruesome attack on police personnel in Lal Bazar. My condolences to ASI Mushtaq Ahmed's family in this hour of grief & prayers for the two policemen critically injured," Mufti, also a former chief minister, tweeted.
People's Conference president Sajad Gani Lone condemned the militant attack.
"Yet again terror on the prowl. Distressing news of fatality of a brave police officer. My heartfelt sympathies with the family of the deceased. Praying for swift revovery of the injured police personnel,” the PC chief said.
Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari described the attack as barbaric.
CPI-M leader M Y Tarigami said, "Deeply pained to hear about the killing of ASI Mushtaq Ahmad in a militant attack in Lal Bazar, Srinagar. My heart goes out to the family of slain official. I wish speedy recovery to injured cops."
Earlier on Monday, the ADGP Kashmir said that a terrorist belonging to the proscribed Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit, identified as Kaiser Koka and active since 2018, was trapped in an encounter in Awantipora.
A joint cordon-and-search operation was launched by the police, Army and CRPF on specific information regarding the presence of terrorists in Awantipora that led to the killing of two terrorists.
During the search operation, as the joint search party approached the spot, the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which retaliated, leading to the encounter.
In the ensuing encounter, two JeM terrorists were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the encounter site.
They have been identified as Kaisar Rashid Koka son of Ab Rashid Koka, resident of Tengpora, Kaigam and Ishaq Ahmad Lone, son of Ghulam Nabi Lone, resident of Lelhar, Pulwama.
As per the police records, the killed terrorist Kaiser Koka was a categorised terrorist and was involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on police and security forces and civilian atrocities.
He was active since the year 2018 and had exfiltrated to Pakistan. After acquiring arms and ammunition and training, he infiltrated back to the Kashmir valley and was active in the areas of Awantipora and Pulwama.
He was also involved in an IED attack at Larmoo Awantipora on May 2 in which two CRPF personnel got injured.
The other killed terrorist, Ishaq Ahmad Lone, was a hybrid terrorist and was also involved in several cases including the attacks on police and security forces and civilian atrocities.
Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.
A case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation has been initiated.
