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Four Policemen Killed in Militant Attack in South Kashmir

Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for the attack, which followed a day after three Lashkar militants, including two minors were killed by security forces.
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Four policemen were killed in an attack by militants on a guard post in the Zainapora village of Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, December 11. The incident marks the second major attack after at least a dozen policemen and their kin were allegedly abducted by militants in August. As per the reports, the militants attacked the post while they were guarding four families of Kashmiri Pandits. The incident is being seen as a backlash by the militants after a series of attacks by the security personnel resulting in loss of their cadre and weapons.

Of the four policemen, three were instantly killed, one was critically wounded who later succumbed to injuries in the hospital. Meanwhile, no injury was caused to the Kashmiri Pandit families. After the attack, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) issued a statement stating that ‘its men carried out a fierce attack on the government forces.’

“As per the initial reports, three Indian security forces have been killed while several others critically injured,” JeM spokesperson Muhammad Hassan said while taking responsibility of the attack.

A senior police officer told NewsClick, “Militants are targeting isolated posts, so that they can snatch weapons. They are also aggressive after the series of attacks that were carried out.” Commentators believe that the operations have been intensified by both army and militants, resulting in the loss of lives. As per the data collated by Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), “146 civilians, 250 militants and 148 armed forces have died until December 5.”

The attack by the militants comes a day after security forces killed three militants of Lashkar-e-Taiba, including two minors of 14 and 17 years. This is the first time in Kashmir when young boys have started joining militant ranks, which according to the political commentators, is a sign of the war turning murky.

The killing of the teenagers had evoked multiple reactions by the locals who held both the army and militants responsible. Some called it as a “great disservice by Lashkar” and others blamed the army for carrying out an encounter despite knowing that two teenagers were involved. A local named Zulkarnain Banday expressed his anger on Facebook. “Lashkar has done a great disservice by accepting a 14 year-old kid in their ranks. If he was immature you were not, and if he was mature enough then you were not,” he wrote.

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