Protestors clash with security forces after Eid prayers in Srinagar. (AFP pgoto)

SRINAGAR: Two policemen and a BJP functionary were killed in three separate terror strikes across Kashmir on Wednesday as the state was celebrating Eid-ul-Adha.

A police constable, identified as Muhammad Yaqoob, was injured when terrorists opened fire at him outside his residence in Louswani area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said, adding he died while being taken to hospital.

In a separate incident, terrorists opened fire on another constable, identified as Fayaz Ahmad Shah, when he was going home after offering Eid namaz in Awgam village of south Kashmir's Kulgam district. He was rushed to hospital where he died, police said.

Sources said Shah had worked as a special police officer earlier. He was recently promoted to constable.

DGP S P Vaid termed the killing a "dastardly act". "It only shows the frustration of terrorists who are resorting to such a cowardly act of attacking an unarmed policeman," he said.

Meanwhile, the bullet-riddled body of a BJP functionary, Shabir Ahmad Bhat from Pathan village of Pulwama, who had been abducted by terrorists when he was going home on Tuesday evening, was found in Litter village of Pulwama district on Wednesday morning, police said.

Bhat's killing evoked a strong reaction from BJP president Amit Shah. "Anguished to learn about the killing of BJP karyakarta, Shabir Ahmad Bhat, by terrorists in Pulwama (J&K). This act of cowardice is highly condemnable. Extremists cannot stop the youth of Kashmir from choosing a better future for themselves. This cycle of violence won't last long," he tweeted.

Bhat is the first political worker to be killed by terrorists after the J&K government announced municipal and panchayat elections in the state last week. A 30-year-old BYJP leader was killed by terrorists in Shopian district in November last year. In April this year, 61-year-old BJP functionary Ghulam Nabi Patel was killed by terrorists in Pulwama.

(With agency inputs)

