Srinagar, Feb 6 (IANS): In an audacious attack, militants attired in pherans helped a Pakistani LeT terrorist escape by firing at the police party escorting him to hospital here on Tuesday, leaving two policemen dead.

Authorities have sounded a high alert in the city.

According to police, two militants wearing pherans (Kashmiri overgear) carried out the attack to help Pakistani terrorist, Naveed Jat alias Abu Hunzullah, escape when he was being taken to the S.M.H.S hospital for a medical check up from Srinagar central jail in the morning.

Hunzullah escaped when the waiting militants fired at the police party outside the hospital. One policeman was killed, while another was injured, and died later in hospital.

"Naveed, a resident of Multan in Pakistan, had joined the LeT in 2011 and was active in the Valley for four years before he was arrested in Kulgam district last year.

"He was a close associate of Abu Qasim, the LeT commander, who was killed in 2015 by the security forces in Kulgam district," police said.

Police refuted media reports that the escaped militant had snatched the rifle of a policeman before escape.

The area around the hospital was sealed.

Vehicles moving in the city were being searched to trace the escaped LeT terrorist.

All exit points from Srinagar city were also sealed as vehicles going to urban and rural areas were being checked to trace the LeT terrorist.

Head Constable Mushtaq Ahmad was killed in the attack, while Constable Babar Ahmad, who was injured, died later.