Policeman guarding shrine shot dead by militants in Kashmir

Srinagar: A Selection Grade constable of Jammu and Kashmir police, who was guarding a shrine in central Kashmir district of Badgam, was killed by militants on Sunday afternoon, a police spokesman said here.He said the militants shot at and critically wounded SG constable Kultar Singh at Charar-e-Sharief shrine from a very close range.

The injured was immediately rushed to a local hospital, from where he was referred to the SMHS hospital, Srinagar. He later succumbed to his injuries. Security forces immediately rushed to the area and launched a massive operation to nab the militants responsible for the attack, he said. 

This was the first such incident near the shrine, after it was gutted in a devastating fire in early 90s, when militants, including foreigners, had taken shelter there.The Zonal Police in a tweet said ''Sg Ct Kultar Singh attained martyrdom in the terror incident at #Chariesharif. He was part of AP 13 Bt of JK Armed Police. Our heartfelt sympathies.Militants have also decamped with the service weapon of the martyr.(UNI)