Srinagar: A policeman was shot dead by terrorists at his residence in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, police said.
Constable Reyaz Ahmad Thokar was shot at in Gudoora in the district this morning when he alongwith his child was waiting for the school bus, a police spokesman said.
The injured cop was rushed to the Army’s 92 base hospital in the city but succumbed to injuries.
This is the second attack by terrorists within 24 hours.
A Kashmiri Pandit government employee was shot dead by terrorists inside his office at Chadoora in Budgam district on Thursday.
Civil & Police Officers including DIG SKR Anantnag Abdul Jabbar, DC Pulwama Baseer ul Haq Chourdary, SSP Anantnag Ashish Mishra, SSP Pulwama Gh Jeelani Wani, CO of 55 RR, CO’s of CRPF 182/183 Bn. and other Civil and Police Officers/Officials participated in the ceremony and laid floral wreaths on the mortal remains and paid rich tributes to the slain for his sacrifice in the line of duty, the spokesman said.
Talking to reporters on the side-lines of wreath laying ceremony, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police South Kashmir range Abdul Jabbar said that this is “act of cowardice as terrorists always look for soft targets and security personnel on leave.”
“Riyaz was on leave and waiting for his child’s school bus when two unidentified bike-borne men opened fire on him,” DIG said.
“We are investigating and have got some leads and very soon resolute action will be taken against all those people who are behind this act,” he said.
Meanwhile, the killing has been widely condemned.
Former chief minister and ex-ministers of Jammu and Kashmir here have condemned the killing of Ryaz Ahmad Thoker.
“Rahul in his office yesterday, Riyaz Ahmad Thoker, a SPO with J&K police, in his own home today. Targeted killings continue unabated. I can’t condemn this killing strongly enough. May Allah grant Riyaz place in Jannat,” Omar tweeted.
Former minister and Chairman Peoples Conference (PC), Sjad Gani Lone in a tweet prayed for the strength of the bereaved family.
“And now the news of the Killing of Riyaz Ahmed. We are dealing with psychopaths who derive pleasure in killing innocent, unarmed non-combatants. May Allah give strength to the family of Riyaz to bear this enormous loss. May Allah grant him Jannah,” Lone tweeted.
Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari condemned the killing and said the series of ensuing killings of Kashmiris is a matter of quagmire and spilling the blood of innocent Kashmiris is a ferocious act which should be unreservedly condemned.
“It is a grievous matter to see young lives being consumed by this lethal conflict. The series of targeted attacks has created an atmosphere of terror among the people of Kashmir and is highly repellent to see a Kashmiri standing against another Kashmiri. My heart goes out to the family members of the deceased cop. No words of sympathy are enough to justify the brutal act,” he said.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) termed his killing as a ghastly, inhuman and mindless act.
In a statement, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) expressed serious concern over unabated bloodshed of policemen and innocent civilians in Kashmir. The regular incidents of killings are disappointing and matter of grave concern, attributing to fear psychosis amongst the citizens
JKPCC slammed the deteriorating security situation in Kashmir, blaming the failures of the government on the security front and failures to contain the bloodshed. The party has laid emphasis over ensuring safety of people, as the security situation in Kashmir has deteriorated to the largest extent, JKPCC feels disappointed and anguished over the unabated bloodshed in the valley.
