Off-duty police officer shot dead in Kashmir

An off-duty Police Sub-Inspector was shot dead in Awantipora sub-district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said here on Saturday.

The body of Sub-Inspector Farooq Ahmad Mir, resident of Samboora, currently posted with the India Reserve Police (IRP), was recovered in a paddy field in his village, police said.

“..Preliminary investigation reveals that he had left his home for work in his paddy fields in the evening (Friday), where he was shot dead by terrorists using a pistol,” a police spokesman said.

Family members said Mir, who was to retire in the next few months, had left home to irrigate his paddy field and after he did not return, they went in search of him.

“Once we reached, we found his bullet-ridden body in the stream near the paddy fields,” a relative said.
Soon after the body was found, security forces launched a hunt to trace the killers.
This year, nine policemen have been killed and seven among them have been shot dead in targeted attacks.

A pall of gloom descended the Samboora village as the news about the killing of Mir spread. The family members and the locals thronged the police officer’s residence.

He is survived by an aged father, two daughters, the elder one is studying MBBS in Bangladesh and younger daughter is studying in class XII. His son is studying in class VII.

A wreath laying ceremony was held at Lehtpora and senior police officers and family members of the SI led by Additional Director General of Police Armed SJM, Gillani laid floral wreaths on the mortal remains.

Mir was appointed in Jammu and Kashmir Police in the 1998 as constable and in 2008 he after qualifying the departmental examination was converted as Selection Grade Constable. In 2012 he was promoted as Head Constable and in 2018 he was promoted as Assistant Sub Inspector. In December last year the officer was promoted as SI (Ministerial) and was posted as OSI (office Sub Inspector) in IRP- 23 battalion.

The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Farooq Abdullah and Vice President Omar Abdullah condemned the killing.

“Yet another family has been devastated. Such dastardly acts only leave a trail of everlasting agony behind them. I condemn this act of terror in the strongest possible terms. My heart goes out to the bereaved family. May Almighty give them strength to bear the pain of this irreparable loss, and eternal peace to the departed,” Farooq said.

Condemning the killing, Omar said, “I am deeply saddened by the horrific killing of an off duty police officer. I offer my condolences with the bereaved and pray to the Almighty that they find enough strength to bear this inconsolable loss. May the deceased rest in peace.”

UNI