A bullet-riddled body of a Jammu and Kashmir Police officer was discovered in the Pampore area of the Pulwama district on Saturday, police claimed, in yet another barbaric act by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists.
Sub-Inspector Farooq Ahmad Mir of the IRP 23rd Battalion at CTC Lethpora has been identified as the victim. Mir is said to have been attacked in Pampore's Samboora on the night of Friday and Saturday.
"Farooq Ah Mir of Samboora Si(M) of IRP 23 BN was discovered dead in paddy fields near his home. According to preliminary investigations, he left his home for work in his rice fields last evening, where he was fatally murdered by terrorists with a handgun "According to the Kashmir Zone Police was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Over the last few months, targeted attacks on police officers and minorities, particularly Hindus, have increased in Jammu and Kashmir. In the Valley, nine targeted attacks have occurred since May, including the one on Sub-Inspector Mir.
This has resulted in a Hindu exodus from the Valley, with Hindus demanding that the government relocate them and prosecute the terrorists.
"Kashmiri Pandits should be housed in one location and given jobs in the surrounding communities, as well as protection. Only then will they be safe. It is, of course, a targeted assassination. It's a targeted killing if you barge into the office and look for him. This is being done in order to prevent them from returning to Kashmir again," a Kashmiri Hindu was quoted as saying by ANI."