SRI NAGAR: Police on Friday said Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists beheaded a 24-year-old youth in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir, a day after abducting him.
A police official said the headless body of Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, a shepherd, was recovered from outskirts of Hajin area on Friday. Manzoor and his father Abdul Gaffar Bhat were abducted by LeT terrorists from their residence in the wee hours of Wednesday, he said. “Some members of the family were also beaten by militants”.
Gaffar had managed to escape from the militants’ captivity and suffered gunshot wounds. He is undergoing treatment in a hospital. Police said local LeT terrorist Mohammad Saleem Parrey, who joined militancy last year, is believed to have played a major role in the abduction-cum-killing. This is the second incident in four days in Hajin, which was once the hub and stronghold of counter-insurgents and pro-government gunmen.
On Monday, five LeT terrorists had stormed the house of Farooq Ahmad Parrey in Hajin areas and resorted to gun and knife attack. Next day, the house owner’s son-in-law was found dead.
While J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti strongly condemned the killing, National Conference working president Omar Abdullah attacked separatists for maintaining silence over the beheading of the youth.