Civilian, cop killed in twin attacks in Kashmir

They said a civilian, identified as Rouf Ahmad, was shot outside his residence at Mirjanpora Nawakadal in Srinagar. He was rushed to hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Security forces have launched a hunt to trace the attackers.

Police blamed militants for the attack. "#Terrorists fired upon a #civilian namely Rouf Ahmad at Merjanpora, Eidgah PS Safakadal #Srinagar. The injured was shifted to SMHS hospital where he was declared dead. #Case registered, investigation going on, " a police tweet said.

Within half an hour, an Assistant Sub Inspector Mohammad Ashraf was critically wounded in a militant attack at Bijbehara in Anantnag district of South Kashmir, officials said.

Official sources said the injured ASI later succumbed to his injuries while being shifted to a Srinagar hospital.

Joint teams of forces have launched a search operation in the area to trace the militants involved in the attack on police officers.

"#Terrorists fired indiscriminately & critically injured a police personnel ASI Mohd Ashraf of PS Bijbehara, #Anantnag. He has been shifted to #Srinagar based hospital for treatment. Area cordoned off..." a police tweet said.

There have been a series of attacks on policemen in Kashmir this month. Six policemen have been killed in three attacks.

On Dec 10, two policemen were killed in a militant attack at Gulshan Chowk of Bandipora in north Kashmir.

Three days later on Dec 13, three cops were killed and a dozen others were injured when militants opened fire on a police bus at Zewan on Srinagar outskirts.