An army officer, identified as Ummer Fayaz Parray, was found killed in Shopian district of south Kashmir on Wednesday, police sources said.
The body of the Lieutenant rank officer was found riddled with bullets in Herman area of the district, they said. Initial reports said that 22-year-old Parray was commissioned in December 2016 in a Rajputana Rifles battalion in Akhnoor.
Police said the officer, hailing from neighbouring Kulgam district, had gone to Shopian to attend the marriage function of a relative. Local reports suggest that the officer was abducted.
Reacting to the killing, Union Minister Arun Jaitley said, “Abduction and murder of Lt Ummer Fayaz by terrorists in Shopian is a dastardly act of cowardice. This young officer from J&K was a role model.”
J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the killing Fayaz.
He added that Fayaz was an exceptional sportsman, his sacrifice reiterates the nation's commitment to eliminate terrorism from the Valley.
South Western Army Commander and Colonel of the Rajputana Rifles Lt Gen Abhay Krishna condemned Lt Fayaz's murder.
The Col further said that “Kashmir has lost a son”.
Indian Army also offered its condolences to Fayaz’s family members.
Some people pelted stones during Fayaz’s funeral procession. Stone-pelting began when the villagers and relatives of Ummer were preparing to begin the funeral procession. It wasn’t clear on who started pelting stones, CNN News18 reported.
It was also reported that an army man’s rifle went off accidentally and the family members of Ummer were annoyed by this. That led to some ruckus and villagers resorted to stone-pelting.
He was laid to rest in Kulgam.
An army official here said they have received an input and are verifying the circumstances in which the officer was found dead.
(With inputs from PTI.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)