Three policemen killed in militant strikes in Srinagar

Srinagar: Militants on Monday killed three policemen including an ASI -- two of them unarmed -- in twin strikes in the heart of Srinagar, carrying out such a major attack in the summer capital of Indian-administered-Kashmir after a gap of nearly three years.
The terror attacks in broad daylight in the space of 75 minutes fuelled concerns among the political parties and the security agencies with former chief minister Omar Abdullah saying they were a "worrying" development and the government should move quickly to reassure the residents and tourists.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi also said the incident was "extremely worrying".
The militants also decamped with the service rifle of one of the slain cops. Terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the two incidents. In the first strike, militants shot dead two policemen,
who were unarmed, in the Zadibal area at around 10.45am.
The ultras shot at the two cops from close range at Mill Stop in Zadibal area which connects the city to Hazratbal Shrine and super speciality SKIMS Hospital at Soura, a police official said.
The two cops died on the spot, he said, adding the deceased have been identified as Assistant Sub Inspector(ASI) Ghulam Mohammad and Head Constable Nazir Ahmad.
The slain cops were posted at Zadibal Police Station. Police and other security forces have been put on an alert to look out for the assailants, who managed to flee the spot.
In the second strike, militants shot at constable Mohammad Sadiq, who was posted as personal security guard to chairman of J&K Pasmanda Tabqajaat (downtrodden classes) Mohammad Abdullah Chatwal, at Tengpora on Parimpora-Hyderpora Bypass road.
The militants also snatched the service rifle of the injured cop before fleeing from the spot, the official said, adding the attack took place at around 12 noon.The cop later succumbed to injuries at Police hospital at Batamaloo. The twin attacks in the city came after nearly three years.
The last such attack here took place on June 22, 2013 when two policemen were shot dead by militants at Hari Singh High Street. The state government described the attacks as "unfortunate" and said the strikes will not deter it from making efforts for peace, prosperity and development and underlined that such "inimical" forces would have to be countered unitedly.
"It (killing of policemen) is unfortunate. Time has come when we all should join hands to counter the forces inimical to peace, prosperity and development," Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh told reporters.
"The attacks on policemen in Srinagar is a worrying development...The govt needs to move quickly to reassure residents of Srinagar and visitors (sic)," he said, adding,
"Such attacks in broad daylight in Srinagar are worrisome and the government should treat the situation with utmost seriousnes."
Hitting out at the PDP-BJP government for "failing to contain the situation", the state unit of Congress termed the killing of police personnel as an "outcome of the misrule and wrong policies" of the ruling coalition and asked the government to take "full responsibility for the unfortunate incidents".