Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday claimed to have arrested five persons who "conspired" to kill a policeman and snatched his rifle on January 25 at Chrar-e-Sharif shrine in central Kashmir's Budgam district.

In a statement, a police spokesman said that SgCT Shri Kultar Singh of JKAP 13th Bn was killed after a group of militants fired him while he was guarding the Charar-e-Sharif shrine. "Militants snatched his rifle and fled away from the spot," he said.

He said a case FIR number 06/2018 was registered in Police Station Charar-e-Sharif under section 120-B, 302, 392 RPC, 7/27 of Arms Act, 16, 18, 20 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act after his killing.

"The investigation so far revealed that one Umar Farooq resident of Pulwama alongwith five other accomplices namely Shahid Ahmad, Shahid Khurshid, Imran and Feroz - all residents of Pulwama - and Mudasir Ahmad Wani & Towheed Rather residents of Pampore, hatched a criminal conspiracy to snatch the weapon from J & K Police guard deployed  at Charar-i-Sharief shrine (sic)," said the statement.

"To give effect to the conspiracy they had a reccee of the area and the said sentry post at Charar-i-Sharief shrine earlier. Consequently they executed this act."