A railway constable and a labourer were shot dead by suspected militants in two separate incidents in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Friday.

In a statement, the police said that the militants fired on the railway constable, identified as Bantu Sharma, at around 6 pm. The police said he was admitted to a hospital, where he died.

The attack took place near Shamford School in the district’s Wanpoh area. Sharma was not on duty when the attack took place, according to NDTV. Security forces cordoned off the area.

Around 8 pm, the militants killed a labourer, Shankar Kumar Choudary, at Neehama area of the district. He was a resident of Preet Vihar village in Bihar’s Katihar district.

The police have registered separate cases in both the attacks. A search is underway to find the assailants, the police said.

The incidents came days after 25-year-old sub-inspector Arshad Ahmad Mir was killed by suspected militants in Srinagar. CCTV footage on September 12 showed that the assailant fired at the officer at least twice from a close range from behind him at a market in Khanyar locality.

Political leaders in the Union Territory condemned the killing of Sharma.

“I unequivocally condemn the militant attack in Kulgam district of South Kashmir,” Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said in a tweet. “My heartfelt condolences to the family and colleagues of Constable Bantoo Sharma of Railway Protection Force who was killed in the line of duty earlier this evening. May his soul rest in peace.”

The National Conference said “such cowardly acts are against the entire mankind”.

Peoples Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti also took to Twitter to condemn the killing. “Very sorry to hear about the terrorist attack in Kulgam today that claimed yet another innocent life,” she tweeted. “Deepest condolences and prayers with Bantoo Sharma ji’s family. May his soul rest in peace.”

Peoples Conference President Sajad Lone tweeted, “Strongly condemn the killing of a police man in Kulgam. May Allah give patience to the family of Bantu Sharma to bear this loss. And may the killers rot in hell.”