In the first ever major killing of a senior police official since the outbreak of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, militants shot dead Deputy Inspector General of Police Mohammed Amin Bhat in the compound of a mosque after the Eid prayers on Monday in uptown Srinagar.

Militants shot at Bhat from close range using pistols fitted with silencers leaving him critically injured near a mosque in Barzulla, Senior Superintendent of Police of Javed Mujtaba Gilani said.

He was rushed to SMHS hospital with three bullet wounds in his throat. Doctors declared him 'brought dead', Gilani said adding a retired sports official, Nazeer Ahmed Khan, was also injured in the incident. His condition is stated be out of danger.

Bhat was serving as DIG (Crime) in Jammu and had come to Srinagar to celebrate Eid with his family. He was instrumental in revival of the intelligence unit of the state police during the early 90s.

A little-known militant outfit, Save Kashmir Movement, has claimed responsibility for the killing.

State Director General of Police Gopal Sharma rushed from Jammu to Srinagar after hearing the news.

Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) K Rajendra told PTI that several teams had been fanned out to nab the killers. "I wonder what kind of jihad (armed crusade) is this. A person is shot dead after offering Eid prayers," he said adding, "This act of cowardice will not go unpunished."

With inputs from PTI