In an act of revenge, mother of an encounter cop who led a successful operation against Lashkar-e-Taiba militants two days go in Kishtwar district of Jammu was shot dead by the ultras late on Sunday evening.

Police said the militants barged into the house of head constable Mohammad Qasim Khan in Keshwan area of Kishtwar and fired indiscriminately at his family, killing his 60-year-old mother on the spot.

Superintendent of police Haseeb Mughal said Khan was not at home when the attack occurred. “He was at his post,” he said.

Khan was part of an operation in Nandigad two days ago in which a suspected Lashkar militant was killed. “Yes, he was part of the operation against militants day before yesterday,” Mughal confirmed.

Police sources said the attack on Khan’s residence was to avenge an offensive launched against Lashkar militants in the area.

Meanwhile, four persons suffered injuries when unknown militants hurled a grenade at a Santro car in main town Bijbehara on Sunday afternoon.