Militants attack J&K leader’s house, kill 2

Srinagar: Two militants opened fired at the residence of a ruling National Conference youth leader on Sunday, killing two policemen, before the ultras were gunned down in an encounter by security forces in Pulwama, the first attack on Lok Sabha poll-related activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Militants opened fired at the residence of NC youth leader Yawar Masoodi at Khrew in Pulwama, 35 kms from here, this afternoon, police said. Two policemen -- Head Constable Abdul Hamid and Constable Vinod Kumar -- posted on guard duty were injured in the attack. They were rushed to a nearby hospital where they were declared dead on arrival.

The attack took place when Masoodi, who is organiser of the party's youth wing in South Kashmir, was holding a party meeting at his residence, a spokesman for National Conference said. The security forces chased the militants and engaged them in nearby fields; police said adding both the militants were killed after a brief encounter. Security forces also recovered the rifle of one of the slain cops which the militants had taken away after the attack, the police said. Shohda (martyrs') Brigade, believed to be shadow outfit of Lashkar-e-Toiba, claimed responsibility for the attack. This is the first militant attack on any election-related activity in Kashmir since the schedule for Lok Sabha polls was announced by the Election Commission last month.