Three motorcycle-borne youth allegedly attacked the personal security officer of a cleric here, hit him with a stick and threw chili powder in his eyes before decamping with his AK-47 rifle.
Police constable Mohammad Hanief, PSO of Anjuman Minhaj-e-Rasool chairman Maulana Syed Athar Dehalvi, was on way to the district police lines on foot last night when the attack took place, a police officer said today.
Security has been beefed up in the city after the incident in view of the Prime Minister's visit to the city on April 2 for the inauguration of the Chennai-Nashri tunnel.
Police have detained two of the suspects -- Masood and Shahid and launched a manhunt to track down the third accused Asif who decamped with the AK-47 rifle. Masood hails from Shopian district.
The injured police constable has been admitted to the Government Medical College (GMC) here.
Police are investigating if the youth had any links with militants.
Authorities have sounded a high alert in entire Jammu city and the outskirts to track down the suspect.
Dehlavi, meanwhile, has cancelled his press conference scheduled today.
"I have cancelled the press conference in view of the security aspect", Dehlavi, who heads the Muslim organisation, said.
He, however, said that he would not stop exposing Pakistan sponsored terrorism.
"Nothing will deter me from exposing Pakistan sponsored terrorism in J&K. I hope the PSO is healthy soon," Dehlavi told ANI.
(With agencies)
