In Shopian, another off-duty soldier killed

Suhail A Shah

Shopian, November 25

A young soldier of the Territorial Army (TA) was today found shot dead in Wuthmulla village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district, 15 km from Harmain village where Lt Ummer Fayaz was murdered in May. Sepoy Irfan Ahmed Dar, 23, a resident of Sazan village in Shopian district, was on leave till November 26.

Army spokesperson Rajesh Kalia said: “Posted in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, he was possibly abducted and killed by terrorists. The matter is being investigated by the police.” 

Dar’s bullet-riddled body was found by locals in Wuthmulla village, 2 km from his home in Sazan. Sri Ram Dinkar, Shopian SSP, said investigations had begun. 

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Dar reportedly went missing after he left home on Friday evening to meet relatives. “He was apparently abducted on his way back home and killed in Wuthmulla,” said sources. Dar is survived by his aged parents, two brothers and a sister. 

It is the second time in six months that a soldier on vacation has been killed in Shopian district. On May 9, Lt Ummer Fayaz (22) of Sarsuna village in Kulgam, who was home on leave, was abducted while he was attending a wedding ceremony in Batpora village of Shopian district and then shot. The police had blamed Lashkar-e-Toiba for the brutal killing, evoking nationwide outrage. 

Later, in September, they claimed to have killed a Lashkar militant in Kulgam “who was part of the group that murdered Lt Fayaz”.

Dar’s funeral was attended by hundreds of villagers. Senior police and Army officials were present for the wreath-laying ceremony.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and former CM Omar Abdullah condemned the killing. “Such heinous acts will not weaken our resolve to establish peace and normalcy in the Valley,” Mehbooba posted on her official Twitter handle. Omar called the murder tragic and reprehensible.