Police constable shot dead in Pulwama

SRINAGAR — A police constable on leave was shot dead by militants in Gudoora area of Pulwama on Friday.

A senior police officer told news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that militants on Friday morning fired at a constable namely Riyaz Ahmad Thoker son of Ali Mohammad Thoker from Gudoora outside his residence.

He said that in the incident, he received injuries and was rushed to District Hospital Pulwama for treatment wherefrom he was shifted to 92 Base Hospital Srinagar, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Meanwhile, a wreath-laying ceremony was held at District Police Lines Pulwama. Civil and police officers including DIG SKR Anantnag Abdul Jabbar, DC Pulwama Baseer ul Haq Choudary, SSP Anantnag Ashish Mishra, SSP Pulwama Gh Jeelani Wani, CO of 55 RR, CO’s of CRPF 182/183 Bn and other civil and police officers/officials participated in the ceremony and laid floral wreaths on the mortal remains and paid rich tributes to the slain for his sacrifice in the line of duty.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of wreath-laying ceremony, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, South Kashmir range, Abdul Jabbar said that this is a “cowardice act as militants always look for soft targets and security personnel on leave.”

“Riyaz was on leave and waiting for his child’s school bus when two unidentified bike-borne men opened fire on him and he died,” the DIG said as per KNO. “We have set an investigation into motion soon after the attack and have got some leads and very soon resolute action will be taken against all those people who are behind this act.”

He said that as J&K Police are at the forefront against militancy and sometimes “we lose our men as well but our actions will continue to end militancy in J&K to bring peace.”

“We are working to make the graph of militancy down and such incidents won’t impact our resolution and fight against militancy,” he said.

On Amarnath Yatra arrangements, he said that arrangements in this regard are at full pace. “We are ready for it and security challenges are always for Yatra. However, we are confident that Yatra will go without any untoward incident and all steps are being taken to ensure a hassle-free Yatra”