Srinagar, Dec 2 (IANS)

Militants Monday shot dead a middle-rung police officer and injured three people in a hit-and-run attack in central Badgam district of Jammu and Kashmir.

A senior police officer told IANS that militants fired at Station House Officer (SHO)Syed Shabir Ahmad of Chadoora police station and his armed guards while they were in the local market, Monday afternoon.

The SHO was killed on the spot while two policemen and one other person were injured in the attack.

The attack appeared to be a planned one, targeting the officer, the police official said.

Panic gripped the market area and shops were shut and transport services ground to a halt after the firing incident.

Senior police and paramilitary officers have rushed to the spot.

No militant outfit has owned up responsibility for the attack as yet.