Srinagar: A Jammu and Kashmir Police constable was killed after terrorists opened fire on a police patrol in Anantnag district on Wednesday, marking another targeted attack on security personnel in the Kashmir Valley amid hightened security deployment for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra.
According to official sources, the policeman was on routine patrol duty when a vehicle brone terrorist allegedly approached the police party and opened fire at close range. The constable sustained critical gunshot injuries and later succumbed despite efforts to save him.
Soon after the attack, security forces rushed additional reinforcements to the area, sealed all exit routes and launched an extensive search operation to trace the assailants. Multiple checkpoints were established in an around Anantnag as security agencies began examining CCTV footage and collecting forensic evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events.
Initial intelligence inputs indicate that a proxy outfit linked to the Pakistan based terrorist organisation Lakshar-e-Taiba has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Security agencies are verifying the authenticity of the claim while investigating whether the assault was planned as a lone wolf stike or involved a larger militant network.
The incident comes at a time when security forces have intensified anti-terror operations across Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in south Kashmir, following recent militant activity and in view of the annual Amarnath Yatra. Authorities have maintained a high security alert across vulnerable districts to prevent attacks on security personnel and pilgrims.
Senior police officials are expected to review the security arrangements in the region following the killing. Investigators are also examining the movement of the suspected attackers and exploring possible local support networks that may have facilitated the assault.
The killing is the latest reminder that despite sustained counter-terror operations, militants continue to target security personnel in the Valley. Officials have appealed to residents to remain vigilant and share any information that could assist the investigation.
Further details, including the identity of the slain policeman and the outcome of the ongoing manhunt, are awaited as authorities continue their investigation.
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