Policeman shot dead by suspected militants in Kashmir’s Kulgam

A manhunt has been launched for the militants.

A policemen was shot dead by suspected militants in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Wednesday evening.

A senior police officer confirmed the development and said the slain cop, Gowhar Nazir Tantray, was on his motorcycle when militants opened fire on him near the Kanjikulla bridge in Kulgam.

Tantray was a resident of Kujjar area in Kulgam and was currently posted in Padpawan.

“He was a special police officer (SPO) who was converted to a constable,” he said.

A police spokesperson said he joined as a constable in December last year.

Investigation is on in the case and a manhunt has been launched for the militants.

Kashmiri policemen walk a very tightrope in the Valley’s conflict. They face the ire of stone-pelting protesters on one hand and bullets of militants on the other.

Earlier in the day, security forces arrested a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant, who was earlier involved in incidents of stone pelting, in Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, police said.

Basit Najar was caught with a pistol at a checkpoint put up at a fruit market in the town, a police spokesman said.

Police said Najar confessed during questioning that he and his associate, Danish Mantoo, recently joined the LeT and were active in Sopore.

(With agency inputs)