Militants attack policeman in Indian-controlled Kashmir, snatch rifle

Suspected militants Friday attacked an Indian policeman and snatched away his service rifle in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.

The policeman was fired upon and wounded at Kachdoora village of Shopian, about 62 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Militants today shot and wounded an Indian policeman outside a bank in a village here," a senior police officer posted in Shopian told Xinhua. "The militants later on snatched away his service rifle."

According to the officer, the policeman was posted as a security guard at a bank.

"He was on duty outside the bank when militants attacked him and fled away with his service rifle," the officer said. "The wounded policeman was immediately rushed to hospital."

Following the attack contingents of police and Indian troops rushed to the spot to nab assailants. However, locals said attackers managed to escape after the attack.

The attack created panic in the locality. So far no militant outfit has claimed responsibility of the attack.

Militants occasionally target Indian police and paramilitary troopers in the restive region and try to snatch their rifles.

This week two service rifles of policemen went missing from their place of posting in southern Pulwama district.

A guerrilla war has been going on between militants and Indian troopers stationed in the region since 1989. However, of late Indian policemen too have been trained to fight them.