Srinagar: Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor, Farooq Ahmad Khan Monday cautioned militants against targeting policemen saying if they (militants) won’t stop killing innocents, they would soon face the wrath of the people of Kashmir.
Talking to the reporters on the sidelines of a function at Sheri-Kashmir International Convocation Centre (SKICC) here, Khan said “people of Kashmir are totally against militancy and would throw out these self-styled Mujahid”.
“These self-styled Mujahid who actually are coward terrorists will be thrown out as people of Kashmir are totally against terrorism and its sympathizers. They (militants) at that time would seek protection from the same police whom they target today; so I warn them to refrain from cowardly acts,” he said referring to the Sunday’s incident wherein a police Sub-Inspector was killed in a militant attack at Khanyar area of the city.
Khan said “had they (militants) been brave, they would not have targeted an unarmed police officer, who was performing his duty for safety and security of the people, from behind.”
“Targeting an unarmed young officer who was performing duty for safety and security of people is an act of cowardice; the CCTV footage shows that the militants fired at him from the behind. I am sure that our brave officer would have ripped him (militant) apart, if he had confronted him from the front,” Khan added.
The Advisor to the LG hoped that police would identify the militants involved in the killing of SI Arshad Ahmad soon and bring them to justice.
“Since terrorism has no religion, they will not be forgiven by any god, Bagwan, Wahe-Guru or either by the society for this cowardice act. Being an ex-policeman myself, I hope that our police will identify the killers and bring them to justice soon,” he added
Khan said that the young unarmed officer “who was working for the country and people after going through hectic training was killed in a cowardly act. His parents’ dreams are shattered.”
Meanwhile, thousands of people attended the funeral of the killed cop at his ancestral village Kalmoona, Vilgam in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
Reports said that thousands of people had assembled to participate in the last rites of the slain in his native village Kalmoona. Women were wailing when the body reached the village.
The slain officer, Arshid, a post graduate in Botany had been an outstanding student during his studies. He was appointed two years back in police and was presently posted at Khanyar in Srinagar.
He is survived by his parents and three siblings.
