In the last four months, 16 policemen have been killed in militant attacks in various areas of Kashmir with Achabal attack, in which six cops including SHO were killed, being deadliest.
The 16 slain policemen including two special police officers were killed in Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts.
Senior police officials said that “Friday’s attack in Achabal was part of the larger trend that picked up among militant groups after the killing of Burhan Wani in south Kashmir in July last year.”
Though the killing of policemen in militant strikes started in March this year, but on May 28 five policemen and two bank guards were killed at Phambai area of Kulgam district.
Earlier on April 2, a policeman was killed and 10 others including an officer were injured in a grenade attack at Nowhatta area. On March 5, three militants and a policeman were killed during an encounter in Tral area of Pulwama district.
And on Thursday, two policemen were killed in different incidents in Kulgam and Srinagar.
“Earlier, militants attacked police to snatch weapons, Now, they strike to kill cops and decamp with their weapons,” a senior police officer said.
Since Burhan's killing, over 70 weapons have been snatched from different forces personnel, particularly from police in different incidents across Kashmir.
“We are yet to ascertain whether it was planned attack,” one of the senior police officers involved in investigations said. “Yet we are not able to ascertain the exact number militants involved in the attack.”