Five persons including four police personnel killed in a terrorist attack in J&K's Shopian

Update at 5:07 pm: Hizbul Mujahideen along with Jaish-e-Mohammed claims responsibility for the Shopian attack

Correction: The driver has not been killed. Four police officials have been martyred

In a tragic, infuriating and violent act of terrorism, four police officials and a driver have been martyred near Arhama at Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian.

The four police officials, including one SPO, were repairing their vehicle when they came under attack by terrorists. The terrorists decamped with their rifles, viz. 4 AK-47s. 

A press release has been issued following the dastardly attack:

"Terrorists in the afternoon hours today fired indiscriminately upon a police party at Arhama in district Shopian.

In this incident four cops sustained gunshot wounds and were evacuated to nearby hospital for medical attention. However all the four injured policemen succumbed to their injuries.

The martyred policemen were identified as Constable Ishfaq Ahmad Mir, Constable Javaid Ahmad Bhat, Constable Mohammad Iqbal Mir and SPO Adil Manzoor Bhat.  

Police has registered a case and initiated investigations in the instant matter."

The attack comes hours after two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, including HM commander Altaf Ahmad Dar, were neutralised in an operation in Anantnag's Muniward. 

The Anantnag encounter had broken out following Police and security forces launching a search operation early in the morning. While the search was in progress, the terrorists opened fire. Altaf Ahmad Dar had been an active terrorist for a number of years and, as per the press release issued regarding the encounter, has a long history of criminal records since 2007. Arms and ammunition were also recovered from the encounter site.

On Tuesday evening, terrorists had also attacked the residence of BJP leader Avtar Singh in Tral's Monghama. However, the SPO guarding Singh's residence retaliated by opening fire and forced the terrorists to flee.