Suspected militants snatch 4 rifles from police post in Indian-controlled Kashmir

Suspected militants have stormed a police post guarding members of minority Hindu community in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir and snatched four service rifles belonging to policemen deployed there, police said Sunday.

The militants on Saturday night attacked police post at village Adijan in Kulgam district, about 80 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"During the night militants attacked a police post at Adijan and looted four service rifles of policemen posted there on gunpoint," a police official posted in Kulgam said.

"The police post in the village is meant to guard the members of minority community."

However, the policemen have been left unharmed.

Soon after the matter was brought to the notice of higher officials, contingents of police and paramilitary troopers were rushed to the place to launch a manhunt to recover the snatched weapons.

Police have started investigations into the matter.

Local government set up security posts for the protection of minority families in Muslim majority areas of the region, following the incidents of attack on them.

So far no militant outfit has claimed responsibility for weapon snatching.

Militants occasionally target police and paramilitary troopers in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

A guerrilla war has been 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.

Earlier this year, an Indian policeman decamped with four assault rifles from his place of posting in the neighbouring Anantnag district. Endit