Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Dec 8: As the massive manhunt launched by the security forces against the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants responsible for the killing Station House Officer (SHO) Police Station, Chadoora in Central Kashmir district of Budgam continues, a shopkeeper, who was critically injured in the attack, succumbed to injuries this evening.
The shopkeeper, Ghulam Mohammad who was hit in the abdomen when militants killed SHO Police Station Chadoora, Shabir Ahmad, in his shop at Chadoora market in district Budgam on December 2 was battling for life in SKIMS hospital in Soura, Srinagar since then.
The shopkeeper succumbed to his injuries this evening. However, the two police men – constable Mohammad Shafi and SPO Firdous Ahmad – are out of danger. The SHO was sitting at the shop of Ghulam Mohammad when militants fired at him inside the shop.
The security forces were initially suspecting that Irshad Ahmad Gania alias Abu Abdullah, a resident of Awantipora, who is said to have carried out attack in Awantipora last month killing two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and the attack on the Army convoy on Srinagar Bypass early this year in June a day ahead of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s visit to Srinagar.
However, the preliminary investigations have found that Gania who is known for his dear devil attacks is not responsible for the killing of the SHO. The investigations have concluded that it was another LeT module that is operating in South Kashmir who targeted the SHO.
Police have so far detained around a dozen persons in SHO’s killing during raids conducted in Budgam district. However, some of them have been let off after questioning.
One Abdul Rashid Dar, his son Mohsin Rashid Dar of Panzan and two brothers Showkat Ahmad and Mohammad Iqbal, sons of Mohammad Rajab Sheergojri of Dadompara, Chadoora are among the detained persons.
Police believed that Mohsin, Showkat and Iqbal are the LeT operatives and are ascertaining their role in the attack on the SHO.
Sources said that the SHO was targeted for his role against LeT activities in Chadoora area of Budgam. For the past two months since he was posted at Chadoora Police Station, the SHO had arrested several LeT operatives.
After the killing of the SHO, sources said Police feared more such targeted attacks against security forces in near future.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel