3 min readSrinagarSep 13, 2021 01:48 AM IST
First published on: Sep 12, 2021 at 10:27 PM IST
A POLICE officer died of injuries shortly after he was shot at point-blank range by suspected militants in Srinagar on Sunday afternoon.
Meer Arshad was a recent recruit in J&K Police and was serving his probation as a Sub-Inspector. His killing evoked strong criticism from the mainstream political parties in the Kashmir Valley.
Militants shot at and wounded Meer at Khanyar neighbourhood of old Srinagar city. CCTV camera footage of the incident showed a suspected militant appearing from behind Mir and opening fire at him from point-blank range using a pistol. As Meer falls down, the suspected militant escapes from the scene.
Meer was critically wounded in the shooting incident and was immediately taken to Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Srinagar where he died of his injuries.
The police said they have identified the militants responsible for the attack but refused to disclose their identities or affiliation.
“He [Meer] was deputed to hospital for check-up of an accused person. When he was coming out of the hospital, he was shot at. He was immediately rushed to hospital but unfortunately he succumbed to injuries. It is very tragic loss for us, tragic loss for the family,” DGP Dilbagh Singh told reporters on the sidelines of the wreath-laying ceremony of Meer.
“The perpetrators of crime have been identified and they would be brought to justice,” he said.
DGP Singh said there were around a dozen militant modules involved in such killings and all of them had been wiped out. He said it appears a new module has surfaced. “That too [the new module] has almost been identified,” he said. He refused to name the militants involved in the attack or the militant outfit they are affiliated to, saying that “is not needed” at this point in time.
The mainstream political parties condemned the killing, calling it tragic and dastardly. “Sorry to hear about the death in the line of duty of Sub Inspector Arshad Mir of @JmuKmrPolice in a dastardly attack in the heart of Srinagar city. A young life with so much promise, another grieving family…,” tweeted former chief minister and National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah.
Former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti tweeted: “Saddened to hear about the death of J&K Police Sub Inspector Arshid Ahmad killed by militants at Khanyar today. May his soul rest in peace and condolences to his family.”
Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone said: “SI Arshid Ahmed martyred. May Allah grant him Jannat. The terrorists have yet again made an addition to the army of orphans.”
The spot where J&K Police S-I Meer Arshad was shot at on Sunday. (Express photo by Shuaib Masoodi) 
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