Srinagar: In a rare instance, police with the help of locals on Friday foiled the attempt of militants to snatch a rifle from a JK police constable in old City of Srinagar.
According to police spokesperson, militants on Friday took the advantage of a huge crowd who had thronged the Jamia Masjid in old city for Friday prayers, “the militants hit the constable on head with a pistol. He fell unconscious. The militants ran away after taking the service rifle of the injured constable.”
Spokesperson also said that a police constable and local youth chased the militants. The militants were overpowered at Bohri Kadak in a nearby locality and INSAS rifle was retrieved from them.
“A Chinese pistol and four rounds were also seized from the militants. However, militants managed to flee from the spot”, the police official said.
The policeman belongs to Indian Reserve Police Force and was currently mandated to guard the historic Jamia Masjid where chief Cleric and head of a breakaway faction of Separatists addressed the Friday congregation.
Earlier, three months ago, on a tip off of an auto driver, a major tragedy was averted when police defused a 50 –kg IED planted inside white color Maruti Car beneath a bridge on a Bypass which connects Srinagar with border district Kupwara and Baramulla.
The driver was awarded by the Kashmir police chief for informing the police about the IED.
Zahid Maqbool is a freelance journalist based in Srinagar.
