Agencies
Srinagar, Sep 21: As many as 30 policemen have been killed till date in different militancy related incidents in the current year in Kashmir Valley. Seven cops were killed in August, followed by 5 in June, 4 each in the months of January and February, 3 in September, 2 each in March, May and July and one in April.
On January 6, a powerful IED blast resulted in the death of four policemen in Sopore town of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district who were identified as ASI Irshad Ahmad EXK number 825685 resident of Doda about 58 years old, Constable Ghulam Nabi Belt number 720/IRP 3rd resident of Rohama Rafiaabad, Constable Parvaiz Ahmad Belt number 915/IRP 3rd resident of Vilgam Handwara, Constable Mohammad Amin Belt number 470/IRP 3rd resident of Sogam Kupwara.
On February 5, two policemen Mushtaq Ahmed of Karnah and Babar Khan of Shangas Anantnag were killed when militants fired upon them inside SMHS Hospital helping LeT militant Naveed Jatt to free from police custody. Naveed along with six other prisoners were brought to hospital for medical check-up on that day.
Two cops were shot dead by suspected militants on February 25 at two different places. An Armed policeman Kultar Singh of Samba was killed at Charar-e-Sharif shrine while another cop Farooq Ahmed Itoo of Chadoora guarding Hurriyat leaders Fazal Haq Qureshi’s house at Soura was also shot dead. Militants managed to decamp with the rifles of both these slain cops.
Two policemen were killed during the intervening night of March 20 and 21 at Halmatpora Kupwara in a fierce encounter. The said encounter also resulted in the death of five non-local militants and three Indian soldiers.
On March 29, suspected militants shot dead SPO Mushtaq Ahmad Sheikh at Katoo Wubzan village of Dachnipora belt of Bijbehara while his wife Fareeda Begum received injuries during a scuffle with assailants. Two days later on March 31, suspected militants shot dead another SPO Muhammad Ashraf Mir in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Only one cop became the prey in the month of April and this time he was an SOG man Latif Gojri who along with a soldier was killed in a massive gun battle in Laam Forest area of Tral town in Pulwama. Four militants were also killed in this gun fight.
Two policemen were killed in May. On May 11 militants killed a cop Shameem Ahmed of Yaripora Kulgam when they attacked a minority picket at Wadwun Budgam while on May 15 a policeman Abdul Rashid was killed in a militant attack at Padshahibagh Bijbehara.
On June 2 Policeman Aqib Wagay of Panzgam who was injured in a militant attack succumbed to his injuries. On June 13 two policemen Ghulam Hassan Wagay and Ghulam Rasool were killed while another cop was injured after militants attacked court complex Pulwama. Militants snatched their rifles as well.
A cop Tanvir Ahmed was killed on June 20 after militants attacked a police patrol at Galandar Pampore. An SOG man Ashiq Hussain was killed on June 22 in Khiram Srigufwara area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district during an encounter. This encounter also resulted in the killing of four militants and a civilian.
On July 5 suspected militants abducted policeman Javaid Hamid Dar near Vehil Shopian and later killed him while on July 16 Mudasir Ahmed, a security guard of National Conference leader Ghulam Mohiuddin Mir was killed after militants attacked their vehicle in Muran Pulwama. Militants also snatched two rifles while another security guard was also injured in the attack.
The month of August witnesses 7 killings of policemen. On August 22 militants killed 3 cops in three separate incidents in South Kashmir’s Pulwama and kulgam district on the eve of Eid-ul-Azah. They were Inspector Muhammad Ashraf Dar of Larav Pulwama, Yaqoob Shah of Loisani Pulwama and Fayaz Ahmed of Zazripora.
Four policemen were gunned down by militants in on August 29 in Arhama village of Shopian district. They were identified as Constable Ishfaq Ahmed Mir son of Abdul Aziz Mir of Watergam Dangiwacha, Constable Muhammad Iqbal Mir son of Abdul Rehman Mir a resident of Hardu Chanam Rohama, Constable Javaid Ahmed Bhat son of Nazir Ahmed Bhat of Panzinara Sumbal and SPO Adil Manzoor Bhat son of Manzoor Ahmed, a resident of Zawoora Shopian.
And today on September 21, three cops were abducted and killed by militants in South Kashmir’s Shopian district. They were identified as Firdous Kuchary and Kuldeep Singh of Batagund and Nisar Dhobi of Kaprin Shopian.
In the ongoing current year at least 355 people have been killed so far. Many among them became prey of cross border firing. Among the 355 slain people, 94 are men in uniform (48 army soldiers, 30 policemen, 8 BSF personnel and 8 Central Reserve Police Force personnel), 111 civilians and 150 militants.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Kashmir Monitor staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
