Srinagar, April 13 (IANS): Separatist guerrillas shot dead two policemen in the Kashmir Valley Sunday, triggering a gun battle with security forces, officials said. Two of the militants were later killed in the gun fight. The two policemen were killed when the guerrillas attacked them at the residence of National Conference leader Yawar Masoodi in Khrew village in Pulwama district, 20 km from here, where they were posted as guards.
“The militants earlier today (Sunday) attacked the guards at the residence of the NC youth leader Yawar Masoodi,” an official said. “An operation was launched to trace the militants following which they were engaged in an encounter (gun battle).” Security forces also recovered weapons that the militants took with them after killing the policemen.
We put our lives on the line everyday: Omar
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday said the militant attack on an NC leader’s house in Pulwama district was evidence of the risk involved in being in mainstream politics in Kashmir and no one should question the commitment of people associated with it. “The attack on Yawar’s (Masoodi) residence is evidence of the continued risk associated with being a mainstream politician in Kashmir,” he wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter.
“You may not like our politics sometimes but don’t question our commitment because we put our lives on the line every day for our beliefs,” Omar added. He offered condolences to the family of two police personnel, who were killed by the militants in the attack.
“My condolences to the families of the police personnel killed in the attack on my party colleague in Pulwama district today,” Omar said. Both the militants involved in the attack on the house of NC youth leader were killed in an encounter after security forces chased them down.
Meanwhile, opposition PDP president Mehbooba Mufti condemned the attack saying bloodshed will not solve any problem but lead to more tragedies only.
“There is no place for violence in politics and it is against all tenants of decency and political conduct. These unfortunate incidents only result into tragedies and will not yield anything,” she said in a statement.
