SRINAGAR: Pro-freedom fighters fighting against Indian occupation in Kashmir on Thursday fatally shot a policeman guarding the home of a local politician in India’s ruling party, police said.
The fighters opened fire after storming the house belonging to Mohammed Anwar Khan in the region’s main city of Srinagar, senior police officer Vijay Kumar told reporters. He said that the fighters ran away with the policeman’s rifle.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the politician was unhurt and condemned the “brutal” attack.
Kumar said that at least four fighters carried out the attack.
On Monday, unidentified people fired at a municipal office in northwestern Sopore town during a meeting of local councilors. Two councilors with India’s ruling party and a police official were killed.
Pro-India politicians are frequently targeted by fighters.
The Himalayan region of Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan and both claim the territory in its entirety. People support the goal that the territory be united either under Pakistan rule or as an independent country.
India describes the freedom movement as Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Pakistan denies the charge, and most Kashmiris view it as a legitimate freedom struggle.
Tens of thousands of civilians, fighters, and government forces have been killed in the conflict.
