In over a month, 4 security men killed while on leave in Kashmir, another spared
SRINAGAR: At least four security including two policemen, an army man and a paramilitary CRPF jawan, who were on leave, were killed by militants in the strife-torn Valley in over a month while another abducted policeman was spared after his family "apologised on his behalf" and appealed for his release.
Militants late last evening barged into the house of a CRPF jawan Naseer Ahmad Rather at village Naira in south Kashmir's Pulwama district and fired on him from close range.
Naseer, who was posted in CRPF 183 bn at Police Control Room (PCR) Srinagar and was on leave at his home, sustained multiple bullet injuries in the militant firing. He died while being shifted to hospital. The slain cop is survived by parents, wife and three kids.
His wife is pregnant. Naseer was the 4th security men to be shot dead by militants while on leave at his residence. On July 21, militants had abducted and killed policeman Mohammad Mohammad Salim Shah in south Kashmir's Kulgam district. Saleem had been promoted as constable from SPO and was undergoing training in Kathua.
He had come to home on leave some days before he was abducted and killed by militants. Earlier on July 5, militants had abducted police le Javed Ahmad Dar from his house at Vehil in Shopian district. His bullet ridden body was recovered by police few kilometres away from his house. Dar, who was a Personal Security Officer (PSO) of former SSP Shopian Shailendra Mishra, was also on leave at his home.
Earlier, on June 14, an army man Aurangzeb, who had availed leave and was on way to his home in Poonch to spend Eid with family, was abducted by militants in Shopian and later his bullet ridden body was recovered from neighbouring Pulwama district.
On July 28 evening, militants abducted another policeman Mudasir Ahmad Lone R/o Chankitar, Tral of Pulwama district from his home. Mudasir was the lone son of his family, which comprised his parents and three sisters. Immediately after his abduction, his mother in a video message "apologised" to militants on their son's behalf and appealed them to set him free. She has said that her son would resign from police if released.
After the pleas of his family, the policeman was spared by militants and set free. The abduction and killing of security men is turning out to be a major cause of concern for the security agencies.
"By killing policeman at their homes, the militants want to terrorise and demoralise the entire police force. We are trying to deal with this new threat of militants by reviewing the security measures and Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs)," a senior police officer said.
Sources said police officials have directed the policemen hailing from volatile and militancy infested areas of south Kashmir to remain vigilant while being at their homes.
A security official said army and paramilitary jawans have been told to inform local units in case they go on leave to their homes in Valley, especially in south Kashmir.