Jammu/Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday condemned the killing of a retired police officer by terrorists in Baramulla district and said the cowards behind the barbaric act would not be spared.
In a press statement, the LG condemned the terror attack and conveyed his deep sympathies to the family of Mir.
“Pained beyond words on the dastardly terrorist attack on retired police officer Mohammad Shafi Mir while he was giving a call for prayer in the mosque. Cowards responsible for this barbaric act will not be spared,” the statement read.
Sinha expressed his condolences to the bereaved family.
Various political parties also expressed their strong condemnation of the killing and offered condolences to the family of the former police officer.
The National Conference (NC) stated in a post on X, “JKNC president Dr. Farooq Abdullah and VP @OmarAbdullah express profound sadness over the tragic Baramulla incident, where retired SP Mohammad Shafi was senselessly shot dead.”
Mehbooba Mufti, president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), expressed her concern over the loss of innocent lives, stating “innocent people have become collateral damage to maintain the façade of normalcy touted by the Centre.”
The BJP condemned the act as dastardly and emphasised that terror and terrorists have no religion.
BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh said it was not just a cowardly act of terrorists but was also an insult and disgrace to the religious place.
He said it was a shame that terrorists fired on Mohammed Shafi, a former SP, during Azan in the mosque which showed how desperate they are.
“Attacking a person in the place of worship was the most heinous crime for which the terrorists will have to pay heavily,” Chugh added.
The party’s spokesperson in Kashmir, Altaf Thakur, stated, “Dastardly act of killing of a 72-year-old retired police officer by those who have no religion. The sons of the devil can’t even tolerate ‘azaan’… Terror and terrorists have no religion.”
Sajad Lone, president of the Peoples Conference, joined in condemning the killing and expressed his condolences to Mir’s family. He emphasised the importance of evaluating security threats based on objective analysis rather than personal biases.
Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chief Ghulam Nabi Azad said the government must take decisive measures to crack down on terrorism.
“Alarmed by the rising terrorist attacks in J&K. The killing of the ex-SSP Mohd Shafi Mir in Baramulla is condemnable. Urgent action is needed. The government must take decisive measures to crack down on terrorism and ensure the safety of all citizens!” he said on X.
Altaf Bukhari, chief of Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party, expressed his condolences and condemned the cowardly act.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also expressed pain and sorrow at the ex-cop’s killing.
In a statement, he said such killings are a blot on humanity and only bring disgrace to the people and place where they are committed.
