Militants shot dead an off duty policeman, fourth such targeted killing since May this year, in south Kashmir’s Pulwama on Saturday.
The police said the body of Sub Inspector Farooq Ahmad Mir from Samboora, Pulwama, posted in the Indian Reserve Police’s 23 battalion was found in paddy fields near his home.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that he had left his home for work in his paddy fields yesterday in the evening, where he was shot dead by terrorists using a pistol,” the police said.
There are growing incidents of targeted killings of policemen in Kashmir. Three policemen were shot dead in the Valley in May this year.
Meanwhile, security forces have detected and defused an explosive object along Baramulla-Handwara highway in Ganapora area of Langate, Kupwara.
A wreath laying ceremony was held at Lethpora in Pulwama for the deceased policeman on Saturday afternoon. Top police officers and the family members of the deceased laid floral wreaths.
The deceased policeman, a resident of Samboora, Pamopre, was appointed in the Jammu and Kashmir Police in 1998 as constable and was promoted to the rank of a sub-inspector last year. The deceased policeman is survived by an aged father, son and two daughters.
J&K Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari condemned the killing. “I condemn this act of terror in the strongest possible terms. My heart goes out to the bereaved family,” Mr. Bukhari said.
