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Militants snatch service rifle of policeman in Indian-controlled Kashmir

Xinhua, June 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

Suspected militants Tuesday barged inside house of a pro-Indian politician in Indian-controlled Kashmir and looted service rifle of policeman posted as security guard with him, police said.

The weapon snatching took place at village Panzan in Chadoora of Budgam district, about 21 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Officials said the suspected militants believed to be more than five in number overpowered the politician affiliated with rightwing Hindu nationalist Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and took away the service rifle of his security guard, who was not present on duty.

"Suspected militants decamped with service rifle of a policeman serving as personal security officer of BJP leader Abdul Rehman Chopan here," a police official posted in Chadoora said. "We were informed about the weapon snatching by Chopan that few gunmen barged in his house this morning and took away service rifle of policeman posted with him."

Chopan had unsuccessfully contested local elections of 2014 in the region.

Reports said the policeman was not present inside the house and militants fled away with his service rifle without harming Chopan. A senior police official told media the policeman has been arrested for the dereliction of his duty.

Police has sounded an alert and registered a case, besides initiated investigations to trace the rifle. However, until late there were no reports of any arrests in this regard.

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

Last month, militants stormed a police post guarding members of minority Hindu community at village Adijan in Kulgam district and snatched four service rifles belonging to policemen deployed there.

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. Endit