Srinagar: Militants on Friday shot dead a personal security officer (PSO) of a PDP leader in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, police said.
The incident took place when Mufti Sajad, a PDP leader and a relative of former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, had gone to a mosque in Bijbehara to offer congregational prayers, a police official said.
The mosque was around 50 metres from Sajad’s residence, according to police.
The militants killed the PDP leader’s PSO Farooq Ahmad, who was standing outside the mosque, by opening fire on him from a close range, the official said, adding that Sajad is safe.
Police said according to eye witnesses, two assailants tried to snatch the PSO’s rifle.
The area has been cordoned off and a search launched to nab the assailants, the official said.
The cop was immediately rushed to the Sub District Hospital Bijbehara for treatment where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
However, reports said the gunmen also decamped with the service rifle of Ahmad.
Meanwhile, police paid tributes to the slain cop and expressed solidarity with bereaved family. “We stand by his family at this critical juncture,” Kashmir Zone Police said in a tweet.
The wreath laying ceremony for the slain cop was held at District police Line (DPL) Anantnag.
Police officers led by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Swayam Prakash Pani laid floral wreaths on his mortal remains and paid tributes to the cop.
