Militants target police party in Kashmir, injure cop, 2 others

Militants today attacked a police party in Budgam district of Kashmir, injuring three persons, including an assistant sub-inspector of police, and triggering a gunbattle which was underway.
The unidentified militants opened fire on the police party in main market in Chrar-e-Sharief area of Budgam at around 3.15 PM, a police officer said.
Two locals and ASI Abdul Rashid were injured in the attack and were evacuated to hospital, he said.
The area was immediately cordoned off by the security forces, including Army, the officer said.
Intermittent firing between militants and security personnel was going on when the last reports came, the officer said, adding more reinforcements were rushed to the spot and efforts are on to neutralise the militants.

No militant outfit has so far claimed responsibility for the incident, he added

Kashmir Valley has seen a spurt in militant attacks in past few months. The latest was the attack on CRPF convoy last week, the deadliest strike on security forces in recent years, in which eight CRPF personnel were killed and 21 critically wounded.
The government told the assembly yesterday that militants were striking on soft targets because of continuing pressure from security forces.
The attack in south Kashmir took place on a day Union
Home Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a high level meeting in Srinagar to review the security situation in J and K in the wake of recent spurt in militant attacks including the deadly Pampore strike.

The review meeting, in which Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was present, comes a day ahead of the start of Amarnath Yatra. Top civil administration and security officials of the state were also present in the meeting.