Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday said that a “Pakistani” militant who was active from last six months in Srinagar was killed in a brief shootout in Hazratbal area of the summer capital of J&K.
“A police party was tracking him and he was aiming to carry attack on the police guard at the shrine and snatch his rifle,” Inspector general of Police Vijay Kumar told reporters at the scene, minutes after the he tweeted about the shootout.
“Soon after seeing the police party he fired with pistol and the fire was retaliated, leading to the killing of the militant,” Kumar said, adding, “He was a Pakistani and active from last six months. His video had also gone viral recently,” he said.
Two more militants fled from the scene and police is tracking them using CCTV footage and following other leads, Kumar said.
He said intelligence network is very strong in Srinagar.
To a question how police see the attack near Hazratbal given the faith of people from all religions with the place, he said,
“The aim, like the incident in Pulwama mosque today and at this shrine, was to hurt the religious sentiments and create law and order problem.” adding that pistol has been recovered from site at Hazratbal.
Meanwhile, the IGP identified the slain militant as Haider and said he was a TRF commander.
