This is an archive article published on August 23, 2018
Violence on Eid: Militants kill three J&K cops, BJP worker
On Tuesday night, suspected militants abducted a BJP worker, Shabir Ahmad Bhat, from his village of Rakh-e-Litter in Pulwama. His bullet-riddled body was found Wednesday morning.
Protesters stone securitymen in Srinagar Wednesday. (AP Photo)
An Inspector and two constables of J&K Police were shot dead and a BJP worker was abducted and murdered by militants in four separate incidents Wednesday in the Valley where violence marred Eid celebrations.
Two other policemen were targeted late in the evening — in one case, the policeman was shot at but escaped unhurt while in the other, militants barged into the home of a policeman who was not in.
Inspector Mohammad Ashraf Dar died after he was shot at point-blank range inside his house in Larve village of Pulwama in south Kashmir in the evening. Posted at the district police lines in Budgam, Dar had come home for Eid.
In Kulgam, constable Fayaz Ahmad Shah was shot dead as he emerged from the Eidgah after offering Eid prayers. The 34-year-old is survived by his wife and two daughters, one a five-year-old and the other who is just two.
On Tuesday night, suspected militants abducted a BJP worker, Shabir Ahmad Bhat, from his village of Rakh-e-Litter in Pulwama. (Source: Twitter/@AmitShah)
A police spokesman said: “In Kulgam this morning, terrorists fired at constable Fayaz Ahmad Shah who was on leave and had gone to offer Eid prayers. He died on the spot. He was a resident of Zazripora, Kulgam.”
Police sources said Shah, a Special Police Officer (SPO), had become a constable recently and was undergoing training at the Police Training School in Ganderbal. He too was home for Eid.
SPOs promoted as constables are being targeted by militants. Police sources said they have cross-border intercepts in which militants are being told to target SPOs who are being promoted for their roles in counter-insurgency operations.
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Hours after the Kulgam incident, militants targeted another policeman in Pulwama. Constable Mohammad Yaqoob Shah was fired at from close range outside his home at Louswani village. He died of his injuries in hospital.
Police said a preliminary investigation into the killing of Yaqoob Shah suggested that the Hizbul Mujahideen was behind the killing. “Initial investigation has established complicity of proscribed terror outfit HM in this crime. Police have started investigations and the culprits involved in the gruesome crime shall soon be brought before the law,” police said.
Police have issued an advisory to their personnel from south Kashmir, asking them to avoid visiting their homes for the time being and take extreme precaution while on leave.
Police sources said Bhat was a protected person and had personal security officers (PSOs) but he had gone to his village without them.
BJP president Amit Shah condemned the killing. “Anguished to learn about the killing of BJP karyakarta, Shabir Ahmad Bhat by terrorists in Pulwama (J&K). This act of cowardice is highly condemnable. Extremists cannot stop the youth of Kashmir from choosing a better future for themselves. This cycle of violence won’t last long,” he said on Twitter.
The sacrifice of our @BJP4JnK karyakartas will not go in vain. Entire BJP stands firmly with Shabir Ahmad Bhat’s family in this hour of grief. My deepest condolences. May god give his family the strength to bear this tragic loss.
Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter.
Expertise and Experience
Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development.
Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor.
Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans:
Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance.
Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population.
Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley.
Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More
4 min read
Protesters stone securitymen in Srinagar Wednesday. (AP Photo)
On Tuesday night, suspected militants abducted a BJP worker, Shabir Ahmad Bhat, from his village of Rakh-e-Litter in Pulwama. (Source: Twitter/@AmitShah)
