In a shocking incident in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district, a 25-year-old man was allegedly killed by a thief who impersonated a security force personnel and entered his house under the pretext of conducting a search operation.
The victim, Zahid Ahmad Banday, a resident of Sangran in Qazigund, was scheduled to get married next month. He was fatally attacked with a sharp-edged weapon during a midnight robbery attempt
by the accused, identified as Naseer Sheikh, a resident of a neighbouring village.
The incident has left the entire locality in shock.
According to locals, an unidentified individual dressed in a security forces’ uniform entered the residence of Mohammad Yaseen Banday, Zahid’s father, last night. The impersonator, carrying a weapon – later confirmed to be a toy pistol – and a walkie-talkie, claimed to be part of a search operation launched in the area following intelligence inputs about the presence of militants.
“The man told the family that a cordon had been laid and asked them to hand over their mobile phones. The family, believing it to be a genuine search operation, complied,” said a retired Army
man and neighbour of the Banday family.
The impostor then took Zahid to the second floor of the house, claiming he needed to carry out a detailed search. However, Zahid reportedly grew suspicious of his behaviour and confronted him. A scuffle broke out, during which the intruder allegedly attacked Zahid with a knife, leaving him critically injured.
“In a bid to escape, the intruder jumped from the second floor, but sustained a leg injury that left him unable to flee. The family, who had been waiting in the lawn, immediately raised an alarm,” a neighbour recounted.
“When some of us rushed to the house after hearing the cries for help, we were met with a scene of utter chaos and horror. There was mayhem everywhere . Zahid was gravely wounded and bleeding, and his family members were in a state of shock, screaming for help. The accused, who was writhing in pain and unable to move, was quickly overpowered by locals and later handed over to the police,” the neighbour added.
The villagers alleged that the accused may be part of a larger gang, as it would have been difficult for a single person to carry out such a planned act alone.
The accused, who was injured during the escape attempt, was taken to a hospital and is currently under police custody.
A senior police officer confirmed that a case has been registered and the investigation is underway.
