Indian policeman, civilian killed in militant attack on police post

An Indian policeman and a civilian were killed Tuesday after militants attacked a police post in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.

The attack occurred at Tujar Sharif in volatile Sopore town, about 52 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Militants today fired upon a policeman on duty at Tujjar Sharif shrine, wounding him critically," a police spokesman said. "A civilian was also wounded in the attack and both of them succumbed to their wounds while being taken to hospital."

The police post was set up to guard the shrine and mosque in area.

According to the spokesman, militants later snatched away a service rifle from the wounded policeman following the attack and fled from the spot.

Authorities have rushed additional contingents of police and paramilitary to the area to launch a massive search for militants involved in the attack.

So far no militant outfit has claimed responsibility of the attack.

Militants occasionally target police and paramilitary troopers in Indian-controlled Kashmir and try to snatch their rifles.

A guerrilla war is 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.