Militants fire at media team in Poonch, escorting cop killed
KT NEWS SERVICE
JAMMU, Jan 20: The Star News team which went for live media coverage of 'ceasefire violation' in Poonch district had a narrow escape as an under Barrel Rifle Grenade fired by militants hit Tata-407 Ruby vehicle of police escorting the electronic media team at Bhatidhar in Jaghal area of Mendhar this evening at 5 PM.
A police constable was killed and four cops including two Special Police Officers (SPOs) were wounded. The Star News team had a close shave in an attack.
The team included Sant Kumar (Correspondent Star News Jammu), his assistant Surjeet Kumar and the driver of his vehicle.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Poonch Mukesh Singh confirmed the incident. He said that the militants fired a grenade which hit the police vehicle escorting Star News team near Jaghal, 12 kilometres short of Mendhar on Poonch-Mendhar road. He said that the Escort vehicle was badly damaged in an explosion.
SSP Poonch added that the assailants were identified and soon they will nabbed. He, however, said that the assailants fled soon after the attack and efforts were directed at evacuating the victims to the hospital. The Electronic media team was also shifted to a safer area.
SSP Mukesh Singh informed that the incident took place at 5 PM and the Star News team was on its way from Poonch to Mendhar for coverage.
The police constable who died in an explosion has been identified as Abdul Qayoom (number 359/P), while the injured as Showkat Hussain Shah (832/P), Sharbat Hussain Shah (719/P), SPOs Mohd Sadiq (558/SPO) and Amit Bali (239/SPO).
The injured cops were shifted to the District Hospital Rajouri after a preliminary treatment at Sub District Hospital (SDH) Mendhar. The Tata-407 Ruby vehicle which was damaged in an explosion possess registration number JK02T/8701.
A search operation was launched in the area by the security forces and police late this evening.
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