Unknown number of armed men fired at Nazir Ahmad Shah from a point blank range when he was purchasing medicine outside a hospital in the afternoon.
Police sources said Shah, who retired from BSF three months ago, was near a medicine shop located at the Shri Maharja Hari Singh Hospital (SMHS) in Kaksaria area of the city.
At present, the victim was working as a security guard at the hospital.
He was shot at twice, said the police.
A resident of Maidanpur in Kupwor's Lolab, Shah was rushed to the SMHS in a life threatening condition. He remains in a critical condition.
The incident took place just metres away from a police station and the gunmen managed to flee from the spot.
The attack spread panic in the area and the security forces cordon of an area. The barricades set up by the security forces resulted in major traffic jam, for the area being very busy and congested.