J&K cop killed by militants was desperate to see parents, shaved off beard to change appearance

Jammu and Kashmir Police’s sub-inspector Imtiyaz Ahmed Mir, 30, was shot dead by militants at Wahibug in militancy-infested Pulwama district of South Kashmir on Sunday when he was on his way home.

The desperation to see his parents prompted Jammu and Kashmir Police’s sub-inspector Imtiyaz Ahmed Mir to shave off his beard and change his appearance in an unsuccessful attempt to dodge militants who had laid a death trap for him in his village, his colleagues said on Sunday.

Posted in the CID department, Imtiyaz Ahmed Mir had been warned against venturing into his village as there was a possibility of attack by militants, who have been targeting policemen in the state recently. (AP/Picture for representation)

Mir, 30, was shot dead by militants at Wahibug in militancy-infested Pulwama district of South Kashmir on Sunday when he was on his way home. Posted in the CID department, Mir had been warned against venturing into his village as there was a possibility of attack by militants, who have been targeting policemen in the state recently.

“I had told him that he should not go as militants could attack. But he was desperate to see his parents who reside at Sontabugh in the interiors of Pulwama district,” recalled one of his supervising officers.

On Sunday morning, as he was preparing to leave for home, he came with a changed appearance. He shaved off his beard and decided to use his personal vehicle to go to his native village, the officer said.

Son of a retired police officer, Mir, who was from the 2010 batch of sub-inspector, had served in Ganderbal district of South Kashmir for five years before being transferred to Kulgam district last year. He was shifted to the CID department in March this year and his superiors recalled his dedication towards his work.

Militants have been targeting policemen in the state and killed two special police officer and a constable last month, triggering an unrest in the lower ranks of the force with some SPOs declaring their resignation on social media.

In fact, some militants had claimed that Mir had also submitted his resignation.

When the body of Mir was being brought to Pulwama district lines by a police team from Wahibugh, it was attacked by stone pelters as security forces had launched a cordon-and-search operations in Chewa and the area where he was shot dead.

The police have also launched a probe to ascertain how the information about his journey to home had been leaked to militant groups, who had been waiting to ambush him at Wahibugh.