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Cardiologist injured, 2 policemen killed in militant attack

Last updated on: July 18, 2013 17:38 IST

Dr Sheikh Jalal, a leading cardiologist of Kashmir, was seriously injured in a militant ambush that left his two police guards dead.

A senior police officer said militants fired at the vehicle of Dr Jalal near Namblabal Pampore in south Kashmir Pulwama district on Thursday afternoon.

“Dr Jalal was seriously injured in the militant attack and has been shifted to hospital for treatment while his two police guards were killed on the spot,” the officer said.

Dr Jalal an eminent cardiologist had headed the cardiology department of the states only tertiary medical facility, Soura medical institute for a long time and had been its director for some time.

After his retirement Dr Jalal has been doing private practice in capital Srinagar.

He belonged to the south Kashmir Pulwama district but is presently living in capital Srinagar. He had been provided security by the government.

No militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

Police, assisted by security forces, have cordoned off the area and a hunt has been launched to nab the assailants, police said.

The attack comes a day after a top Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed in a grenade explosion at Batmaloo in central Srinagar while he was being shifted to Baramulla district jail in a police vehicle.

Police blamed militants for the attack, but Hizbul Mujahideen accused the cops of stage managing the attack to eliminate Shakeel Ahmad Kasana, who was arrested last year.

Hizbul spokesman Baliguddin told a local news gathering agency that the outfit will carry out attacks to avenge Kasana's death.

Mukhtar Ahmad In Srinagar