A local LJP leader was critically injured and his security guard killed allegedly in a militant attack in Baramulla district this afternoon, official sources said. A group of heavily armed militants opened fire on Feroz Ahmad Malik in Sopore, 55 kms from here.

While Malik was seriously injured in the attack, his security guard Fayaz Ahmad Bhat killed, the sources said. Malik, who unsuccessfully contested 2008 assembly elections from Sopore, was rushed to a hospital where his condition was stated to be critical, they added.

Meanwhile, police and security forces have sealed the area and launched a combing operation to nab the militants. However, no militant outfit has claimed responsibility
for the attack so far.