Security agencies were verifying claims by a news agency affiliated to the Islamic State (IS) that militants associated with the terror outfit had killed a policeman in Srinagar's Soura area on Sunday.
Constable Farooq Ahmed Yatoo was killed when unidentified militants fired on him . He was posted as a guard at the residence of separatist leader Fazal Haq Qureshi.
On Monday, Amaq news agency, the official channel of the IS, released a message that Sunday’s killing was the second attack by IS militants in the past four months.
First attack
The first attack the agency said was an attack in the Zakura area on the outskirts of Srinagar on November 17 where a J&K police Sub-Inspector was killed and a Special Police Officer injured.
An alleged militant Mugees Ahmed was gunned down in the retaliatory fire.
However, following the attack, the Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM), an outfit that was active in the 90s when militancy was at its peak in the Valley, had claimed responsibility.
An hour after Amaq’s claims, Al Qaraar, a newly created social media group of the IS, also posted a message that the policeman was killed by its members and his rifle was taken away as “war spoil”.
Posts pictures
The message had Yatoo’s picture and a photograph of the rifle allegedly snatched from him.
“We are verifying the claims. IS has no presence in Kashmir Valley,” said a senior Home Ministry official.
Published - February 27, 2018 08:28 am IST
