From correspondents in Jammu and Kashmir, India, 04:01 PM IST

Separatist guerrillas shot dead a Special Police Officer (SPO) in Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore town Sunday, and a politician who witnessed the crime suffered a heart attack and died, police said.

A police officer said gunmen fired at the victim near the main bus stand in Sopore, 54 km from here. Fayaz Ahmad died instantly.

A Lok Janshakti Party leader, Feroze Ahmad, who witnessed the firing, suffered a massive heart attack and died. Ahmad lost the assembly election in the state last year.

Sunday's strike comes after guerrillas fired two rifle grenades at a security force camp late Saturday. The grenades exploded without causing any damage.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)