Shopian police chief escapes bid on life in militant attack

The police chief of militancy infested, Shopian district, in south Kashmir had a narrow escape on Saturday after militants attacked the bullet-proof vehicle he was travelling in.

Reports said militants opened fire on the vehicle of Superintendent of Police (SP) A S Dinkar near Hajipora on Kulgam-Shopian road as he was heading towards neighbouring Kulgam district to attend an army function.

His guards retaliated, resulting in a brief exchange of fire. However, the militants fled from the spot. There was no report of any casualties.

Reports said immediately after the attack security forces launched a search operation in the area to nab the assailants. The districts of Shopian, Kulgam and Pulwama in south Kashmir have emerged as the hub of militancy in the last two years and have witnessed a spate of terror-related incidents.

The area has become the hub of tech-savvy militants as nearly 80 local boys joined militant ranks from these three districts in 2017 while nearly 50 were stopped from becoming ultras.

"The Pulwama-Shopian-Kulgam axis has become a hotbed of homegrown militants and a challenge for security forces. It is in this region where militants train new recruits. Since last year several videos have surfaced on social media showing militants carrying out patrolling in the forest areas," a senior police officer told Deccan Herald.

"Today's attack on district police chief demonstrates how emboldened militants in the area feel. The areas have seen the highest number of encounters and attacks since 2016. The topography of Shopian, with its vast orchards and fields ringed by dense forests, also provide a perfect shelter and operating cover to militants," he said.