A Sub Inspector of Jammu and Kashmir police was killed in a terrorist attack in Khanyar area of downtown Srinagar on Sunday, said Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh. He said the attacker involved in the attack has been identified and would be brought to justice soon.
Police sources said Sub Inspector Arshid Ashraf Mir was fired upon from close range from behind at Khanyar area of downtown Srinagar in the afternoon.
The police official received multiple bullet injuries and was shifted to S K Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura, where he succumbed to injuries.
The attack has been caught on the CCTV. According to the CCTV footage, which has gone viral on social media, a gunman can be seen firing from close range towards the Sub Inspector.
After the attack, police and paramilitary personnel rushed to the area and launched search operation in the area to track down the attackers. However, no arrests were reported during the operation.
It was the second attack in Srinagar in last three days.
Earlier, on Friday some men had lobbed a grenade on a police post at Chanapora in uptown Srinagar in which a CRPF man and woman were injured.
A wreath laying ceremony for the slain police officer was held at District Police Lines Srinagar.
Talking to reporters on side lines of the wreath laying ceremony, DGP Dilbagh Singh said SI Arshad Ahmad was a brave and young officer who was at the threshold of the service and was deployed for medical checkup of an accused to a hospital and on his return he was attacked, leaving him critically injured.
“Every life lost is cause of concern for us,” he said adding perpetrators involved in the attack have been identified and follow up operation has been launched. “The perpetrators of the criminal act would be brought to justice soon”.
The DGP said about a dozen modules, which were involved in pistol shootings and civilian killings in Srinagar, have been neutralized. “The new module, which is currently active in the city, has almost been identified. We will soon initiate action against them”.
J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha condemned attack.
“I strongly condemn brutal killing of our braveheart Police Officer Arshad Ashraf Mir by terrorists. This is a handiwork of enemies of humanity & peace. His supreme sacrifice won't go in vain, terrorists will be punished for the act. Heartfelt condolences to the martyr's family,” Sinha tweeted.
The PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, NC vice president Omar Abdullah, Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari, Peoples Conference chairman Sajjad Gani Lone, CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami and BJP leader Ashok Koul also condemned the killing of police officer.