STATE TIMES NEWS
Srinagar: Terrorists opened fire at the residence of a PDP leader in the Natipora area of the city on Monday, martyring his personal security officer.
Parvaiz Bhat, the terrorist-turned-PDP leader, escaped the attack unhurt.
Bhat said terrorists dressed in ‘pheran’ — traditional Kashmiri cloak worn during winter — and armed with AK rifles came to his residence.
As soon as the terrorists pulled out their weapons, the PSO opened fire, he said.
The selection grade constable was injured in the firing by the terrorists.
The injured cop was taken to the nearby Bone and Joint Hospital for treatment, a police official said.
He said the policeman succumbed to injuries.
Bhat claimed that it was third attack on his life since he joined mainstream politics. He was earlier a militant of Hizbul Mujahideen.
“The government has downgraded my security. I don’t know what would have been the fate of my family if the alert PSO had not opened fire,” Bhat told reporters at his residence.
He claimed that his security detail was reduced last year and he now had only two PSOs compared to five earlier.
The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee strongly condemned the killing of Police Official guarding PDP Leader and conveyed deepest condolences to bereaved family
The Party described the killing of PSO Manzoor Ahmad as cowardice, mindless and shameful, urging the authorities to identify the killers for exemplary punishment.
Apni Party provincial president Kashmir Mohammad Ashraf Mir expressed solidarity with the bereaved family of the slain constable and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul. “These violent incidents are inhuman and will yield nothing except for death and destruction,” Mir remarked.
According to a police spokesperson, preliminary investigation revealed that terrorists had fired upon PSO of PDP leader Haji Parviaz Ahmad at Asthan Mohalla Natipora. The injured PSO was evacuated to nearby hospital for the treatment where he succumbed to his injuries and attained martyrdom. He has been identified as SgCt Manzoor Ahmad of 11th BN Security.
Police has registered a case in this regard under relevant sections of law. Investigation is in progress and officers continue to work to establish the full circumstances of this terror crime. Area has been cordoned and search in the area is going on.
To pay honour and respect to the martyr, a wreath laying ceremony led by DGP Dilbag Singh was held at DPL Srinagar, where floral tributes were paid to the martyr.
IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar-IPS, DIG CKR Amit Kumar-IPS, SSP Srinagar, SSP Security besides, other officers and officials and family members of the martyr also laid floral wreaths on the mortal remains and paid rich tributes to the martyr for his supreme sacrifice made in the line of duty.