Police said on Wednesday militants of Hizbul Mujahideen were responsible for the killing of a recently-promoted constable outside a mosque in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
Officials said 34-year-old Fayaz Ahmed, who was on leave, died on the spot as he stepped out of the mosque after offering prayers on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha. Locals said Ahmed was attacked by unidentified gunmen, who fled from the spot immediately.
Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the law and an investigation in the matter has been initiated.
Ahmed’s body was taken to police lines where floral tributes were paid to him. His body was handed over to his relatives in the afternoon for a burial at his native village. Ahmed, a resident of Zazripora Kulgam, is survived by two daughters, aged five and two years, his wife and mother.
Another police constable was injured in an attack by militants in Pulwama on Wednesday evening, officials said. The constable has been identified as Mohammad Yaqub and shifted to a hospital in a critical state.
Fayaz is the fourth policeman to be killed by militants in the past four months.
The militants had earlier asked policemen and special police officers (SPOs) to leave their jobs or face consequences. More than a dozen SPOs resigned in south Kashmir’s Tral earlier in August after they received the threats from the militant group. The operational commander of Hizbul Mujahideen Riyaz Ahmad Naikoo had also issued a similar threat.
{{/usCountry}}The militants had earlier asked policemen and special police officers (SPOs) to leave their jobs or face consequences. More than a dozen SPOs resigned in south Kashmir’s Tral earlier in August after they received the threats from the militant group. The operational commander of Hizbul Mujahideen Riyaz Ahmad Naikoo had also issued a similar threat.
{{/usCountry}}Saleem Shah, who was working as a special police officer and recently promoted, was killed by militants in Qaimoh Kulgam in July. Another police constable Javeed Ahmad Dar was abducted from his house at Vehil in Shopian district and later killed by militants.
Police later said that the three militants involved in Shah’s killing were neutralised within hours.
According to official data, more than 30,000 SPOs are working with Jammu and Kashmir police and are paid Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000. SPOs are not regular policemen and can be disengaged any time and those who have served for three years and worked in operations may be engaged as regular policemen after senior officers recommend them for the engagement.
Earlier in the day, the body of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shabir Ahmad Bhat was found at Litter village in neighbouring Pulwama district. Bhat was abducted by unknown gunmen on Tuesday evening while he was on his way home.