Suspected militants snatch 5 rifles from police post in Indian-controlled Kashmir

Suspected militants stormed a police post guarding court complex in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir and snatched five service rifles belonging to policemen deployed there, police said Wednesday.

The militants attacked the police post on Tuesday night at Shopian town, about 47 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Last night militants attacked a police post inside a court complex at Shopian town, overpowering policemen and took away their five service rifles," a police official posted in Shopian said. "The police post is meant to guard the court complex in the town."

However, the policemen were left unharmed.

Reports said the gunmen immediately left the spot after taking away weapons.

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 aimed at recovering the snatched weapons.

The incident occurred day after militants attacked a bank cash carrying vehicle in adjacent Kulgam district and killed five policemen and two security guards of the bank. The militants also snatched service rifles of the slain policemen.

The killings triggered panic in the region, especially in the towns and villages south of Srinagar.

Region's indigenous militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen has claimed responsibility of the deadly attack.

Last year the incidents of weapon snatching saw an increase in the restive region.

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

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. Endit