Srinagar: Militants killed a young Kashmiri soldier on leave in south Kashmir Shopian district on Saturday, reviving memories of the killing of Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz under similar circumstances by militants in the same district on May 10 this year.
Sepoy Irfan Ahmad Dar, 23, a resident of Senzen village in Shopian, was a serving soldier. He was posted in a Territorial Army unit in Bandipora district, said Defence Ministry spokesman, Col. Rajesh Kalia
“He was on leave till November 26. While on leave, he was possibly abducted and killed by terrorists. The matter is being investigated by the police,” he said.
Dar’s body, bearing bullet marks, was recovered by the police in Keegam village of Shopian district on Saturday morning.
In May, Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz, 22, was kidnapped by militants from Batapora village of Shopian district where he had gone to attend his cousin’s marriage. His bullet-riddled body was found on May 10 in Harman village of the same district.
He belonged to neighbouring Kulgam district and had come on leave to attend his cousin’s marriage. He was posted with 2 Rajputana Rifles in Akhnoor area of Jammu district.
The killing of the bright son of a Kashmiri farmer was widely condemned.
After Lieutenant Fayaz’s gruesome killing, the state police issued an advisory asking its personnel not to visit their ancestral places in south Kashmir districts for six months.
A Border security Force (BSF) trooper on leave, constable Muhammad Ramzan Parray, 31, was killed in his ancestral Hajin village of Bandipora district by militants on September 28.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti and her predecessor Omar Abdullah condemned the latest killing.
Mehbooba Mufti tweeted: “Strongly condemn the brutal killing of Irfan Ahmed, a brave Territorial Army soldier at Shopian.
“Such heinous acts will not weaken our resolve to establish peace an d normalcy in the valley.”
Abdullah, in a statement posted on his widely followed Twitter handle, said: “The murder of young Irfan Dar is a very tragic & reprehensible act. My unqualified condemnation & heartfelt condolences to his family.”
