Firing incident in J&K was militant attack: Police

Jammu, Sep 21 (IANS) The firing incident outside the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) post near the Jawahar Tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday in which one SSB trooper was killed and another injured was a militant attack, police said on Thursday.

"Last evening two SSB personnel were injured when terrorists fired upon them in Banihal area of district Ramban. One of them later on succumbed while another is under treatment," a police press release said.

"The terrorists also snatched two weapons — one INSAS rifle and one AR 41 rifle — from the injured personnel. During the preliminary investigation, it has come to fore that the terrorists had used a pistol as cartridge cases of fired ammunition have been found," the release added.

Police said they also recovered two mobile phones in a bag near the site of incident.

"During investigation it has been revealed that three youth of a local Madrassa are also missing. Police have lodged an FIR and further investigation is on," police said.

Earlier police had denied that the SSB personnel had been attacked by militants.

Sources had said there was suspicion that the firing could have been a fratricidal shooting incident.