Srinagar: A bullet-riddled body of a 23-year-old Territorial Army soldier, who was abducted by unidentified persons on Friday, was recovered from an orchard in south Kashmir district of Shopian, official sources said on Saturday.Panic gripped Wothmula Nad area of Keegam in Shopian, when some locals saw the body of a youth lying in a pool of blood in an orchard on Saturday morning.
The locals immediately informed the police, they said, adding a team was rushed to the spot and the body was taken away.The deceased was later identified as Irfan Ahmad Dar, an Army Jawan, who was visiting home on vacations. “Dar, a resident of Sanzan in Shopian, was abducted by unidentified persons yesterday. His bullet riddled body was recovered at around 1000 hrs from the orchard,” they said.
Defence Ministry spokesperson Rakesh Kalia told UNI that Dar was posted in the border town of Gurez in Bandipora district and was coming home on vacations. “The Jawan was on leave till November 26,” he said, adding Dar was possibly abducted and killed by militants.He said the matter is being investigated by police.The killing of the Jawan on vacation was condemned by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference working president Omar Abdullah.
“Strongly condemn the brutal killing of Irfan Ahmed, a brave Territorial Army soldier at Shopian.
Such heinous acts will not weaken our resolve to establish peace and normalcy in the valley,” Ms Mufti wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.“The murder of young Irfan Dar is a very tragic & reprehensible act. My unqualified condemnation & heartfelt condolences to his family,” Mr Abdullah tweeted.This is not the first such incident.
In the past, security force personnel, including Army and policemen, who were visiting home, were killed by militants. Following the killings, police issued an advisory asking its officials to avoid visiting their homes in south Kashmir. Army didn’t issue a similar advisory, but asked its jawans to report to the nearest camps to their residences so that security could be provided to them.(UNI)
