Srinagar: Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday condemned the killing of a police sub-inspector by a militant in the heart of the city.
Probationary sub-inspector Arshid Ahmad was shot dead by a militant from point-blank range in the afternoon at a marketplace in the Khanyar area.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the killing and said, “This is a handiwork of enemies of humanity and peace. His supreme sacrifice won’t go in vain, terrorists will be punished for the act. Heartfelt condolences to the martyr’s family.”
“Strongly condemn the killing of SI Arshid Ahmad in a dastardly act of senseless violence. We express our sincere condolences to the family members of the fearless policeman killed in the line of duty. May his soul rest in peace & the family find strength to face the days ahead,” the National Conference said on its Twitter handle.
NC vice-president Omar Abdullah also condemned the attack.
“Sorry to hear about the death in the line of duty of Sub Inspector Arshid Mir of @JmuKmrPolice in a dastardly attack in the heart of Srinagar city. A young life with so much promise, another grieving family. May Allah grant Arshid place in Jannat,” Omar said on Twitter.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti offered condolences to the police officer’s family.
“Saddened to hear about the death of J&K Police Sub Inspector Arshid Ahmed killed by militants at Khanyar today. May his soul rest in peace & condolences to his family,” she said.
The People’s Conference (PC) also condemned the killing.
“We unreservedly condemn the dastardly and cowardly militant attack on the J&K police SI Arshad Ahmad. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them in this hour of grief,” it wrote on Twitter.
PC chairman Sajad Gani Lone said the killing has made an addition to the “army of orphans” in the Valley.
“SI Arshid Ahmed martyred. May Allah grant him Jannat. The terrorists have yet again made an addition to the army of orphans,” Lone said.
“Khanyar incident is an addition to the senseless bloodshed that has made another Kashmiri family a victim of violence,” Apni Party president Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said in his condolence message.
Bukhari said that such heinous incidents of violence have only deteriorated the situation in Jammu and Kashmir rendering more families to the perpetual sufferings.
He termed the incident as highly deplorable and demanded that the perpetrators of this incident should be identified and brought to justice.
“Apni Party strongly condemns this ghastly incident which resulted in the death of a police officer. Violence in any of its forms and manifestations is unacceptable to any civilized society and the same should be condemned by one and all,” he remarked.
Bukhari said that killing of innocents doesn’t augur well for the furtherance of lasting peace in Kashmir. “I express my sympathies with the kith and kin of the bereaved at this difficult time and pray for peace to the departed,” he said.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) strongly condemned the “ghastly act”, terming it unfortunate, mindless and inhuman. In a statement, the JKPCC said the killing was barbaric and demanded stern action against the killers.
BJP general secretary organisation Ashok Koul conveyed deepest condolences to the bereaved family and said such inhumane acts will never be tolerated, demanding that those behind such attacks be identified for stern punishment.
BJP spokesman Altaf Thakur also condemned the killing of the police sub-inspector, terming the attack a cowardly act.
In a statement, Thakur said the militants “feeling frustrated” are now targeting unarmed policemen.
He expressed solidarity with the family and prayed for peace to the departed soul.
Thakur urged police to take help from the viral CCTV footage of the attack and punish the culprits.
Netizens also expressed grief over the killing.
The slain police officer’s former batchmate and now a Jammu and Kashmir administrative services officer, Saddam, said he could not believe his friend was no more.
“Lost a former batchmate, a friend, a platoon member PSI Arshid Mir. I still can’t believe that person who used to stand on my left side wearing PAU 257 and mine 256 is gone. Killers will be punished,” Saddam said on Twitter.
Another netizen Khurshid Ahmad Malik said the dastardly attack left another family orphaned and it deserved the highest possible condemnation.
“Day in and day out we are losing our gems, this must stop, Kashmir must wake up to this unending death terror cycle,” he said.
Another user, Shabir Dar, said a young life was cut too short by “traders of blood”.
