An ex-serviceman was killed, and his wife and niece were injured, when gunmen opened fire at them in south Kashmir's Kulgam on Monday. This is the first militant attack in the Valley this year. According to police sources, the unidentified gunmen shot at the ex-serviceman, identified as retired Lance Naik Manzoor Ahmad Wagay (45), and his family outside their residence at Behibagh village in Kulgam. The bullets hit Wagay, his wife and her niece. While Wagay was hit in the abdomen, the two women suffered wounds in the legs. All three were immediately taken to hospital where Wagay succumbed to his injuries. The other two are in stable condition. “He had retired in 2021 and had been rearing sheep. He was doing well,” his younger brother said. Wagay is survived by his wife, four daughters and a son. Soon after the incident, a joint team of J&K Police, paramilitary forces and the Army cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to trace the gunmen. J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the attack. In a statement, he said, “I strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attack on Shri Manzoor Ahmad Wagay and his family in Kulgam. The entire nation stands in solidarity with the bereaved family in this hour of grief.” “I have instructed officials to provide the best possible treatment to the injured. Praying for their speedy recovery,” he said, adding that the “perpetrators of this cowardly attack” would be soon punished. Former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has expressed shock. “Terribly saddened to know about the heinous killing of Manzoor Ahmad Waghaey by militants in Kulgam today,” Mufti said in a post on X.
