Anantnag: A retired Army soldier along with his wife and daughter was injured after being fired at by suspected militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district on Monday. The soldier succumbed to the injuries while the condition of his family members was stable.
A police officer said that unknown militants fired upon the ex-army man identified as Manzoor Ahmad Wagay, son of Ghulam Hassan Wagay, a resident of the Behibagh area of Kulgam district, today afternoon. In the firing incident, Wagay along with his wife namely Aiyeena and their daughter were injured. They were immediately shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Soon after the attack, the whole area was cordoned off by security forces to nab the attackers.
The attack on the retired army soldier in Anantnag comes close on the heels of the disappearance of an off-duty Territorial Army soldier in the district. As already reported by ETV Bharat, Rifleman Abid Hussain Bhat, who was on a one-month leave, had left his home in the Kharpora-Chittergul area of Anantnag to report to duty at Rangreth on Saturday, but did not report at the camp till Sunday morning.
Following his "disappearance", a missing persons report was lodged with police. The soldier belonging to the 162 TA unit, returned home on Sunday evening and was later questioned by the police about his whereabouts since Saturday. However, police ruled out any terror angle in the case so far.
Meanwhile, a report from Srinagar said that the killing of the ex-army man in the Kashmir valley's Kulgam town has evoked condemnation from the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah and political parties.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has condemned the attack, saying that the entire nation stands in solidarity with the bereaved family in this hour of grief. “I have instructed the officials to provide the best possible treatment to the injured. Praying for their speedy recovery. I assure the people that the perpetrators of this cowardly attack will be punished soon,” Sinha said.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he was deeply saddened by the tragic killing of an ex-serviceman. “My heartfelt condolences to his family, and prayers for the swift recovery of his injured wife and daughter. Such heinous violence has no place in our society and must be condemned in the strongest terms. May peace and justice prevail,” Omar wrote on X.
Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said the party strongly condemns the terror attack on Manzoor Ahmed and his wife and daughter. “Forces should eliminate terrorists, and ensure the safety of citizens,” Sharma said.
Bharatiya Janata Party, Jammu and Kashmir president, Sat Sharma, President, Jammu and Kashmir BJP, said that the attack reflects the frustration of terrorists and their bosses, who sit across the border. “(Narendra) Modi government is committed to a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and the terrorists involved in the act would be neutralized soon,” Sharma said.
Former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said she was saddened to know about the heinous killing of Manzoor Ahmed Waghey by militants in Kulgam. “Deepest condolences to his family & prayers for the swift recovery of his wife & daughter,” Mehbooba wrote on X.
Communist leader and legislator from Kulgam M Y Tarigami said such attacks won't serve any purpose. “I urge the authorities to ensure best possible treatment to the injured,” he said.
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