Lt Umar Fayyaz came home to celebrate life, abducted, killed in cold blood by militants

The young army officer brutality killed by militants when he was on leave

May 10, 2017

Lt Umar Fayyaz was to turn 23 next month

Joined army on 10 December 2016, posted in 2 Raj Rif in Akhnoor

[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]A[/dropcap]fter killing local policemen, political workers and bank employees in series of targeted killings unidentified militants late Tuesday night abducted and later killed a young army officer, hailing from Kulgam district, in cold blood.

The police are investigating whether the young officer was tortured before militants pumped bullets from close range.

According to police, the dead body of an army officer, identified as Lt Umar Fayyaz, with bullet wounds was found on the road side by the local villagers in Hermain area of Shopian district early Wednesday morning.

The officer was shot in the head and stomach and is believed to have died on the spot, police said.

The police are investigating whether the young officer was tortured before militants pumped bullets from close range.

This is one of the gravest provocation and comes close on the heels of cordon and search operations launched by the army in over two dozen villages of Shopian district to track down the presence of militants.

[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]T[/dropcap]he army was forced to launch cordon and search operations amid reports of the presence of a large number of newly recruited militants in the area. Separate videos showing the presence of militants in the jungles of South Kashmir had created a piquant situation for the security forces.

It is in the back drop of these serious developments the state police had issued an advisory to its men to avoid visiting their native places/ancestor homes in the wake of the volatile situation in parts of South Kashmir districts.

Despite such advance warning, the army officer was sanctioned leave to visit his home.

[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]A[/dropcap]ccording to army authorities, the young officer was visiting home to attend a marriage function of daughter of his maternal uncle at Batapura. Preliminary reports suggested the army officer was reportedly abducted around 10.00 p.m from there and his dead body was found at Hermain (West of Behibagh).

A senior army officer posted in Akhnoor said, “Lt Umar Fayyaz was full of life and energetic”. He was a true patriot and decided to join the Indian army after finishing his school studies”.

BYPASSING SOP’S LEAD TO THE KILLING?

When a young officer was granted leave by his superior officer did he inform him about the dangers involved in visiting home at a time when the atmosphere is volatile and law and order situation deteriorating with every passing day.

The officer himself should have exercised basic precaution of not moving in the area all alone.

The fact that his coordinates were known to the local militants active in the area clearly points towards insider job who may have shared advance information about his presence in the marriage function.

[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]I[/dropcap]t is no secret that the local militant commanders have been issuing death threats and warning locals from joining hands with the security forces and sharing information about the movement of militants. By killing a serving army officer, when he was on leave, the militant commanders have sent a terse reminder to the local residents to stay away from the Indian forces or you will meet the same fate.

The funeral of army officer litmus test for local Kashmir’s’?

All eyes are set on the funeral procession of the young army officer. Compared to funerals of local militant commanders if this young army officers funeral failed to attract less crowd it would clearly signal militant commanders are dictating the agenda on ground zero and in case huge number of local residents turn out to pay homage to the young officer it would send clear message to the militant commanders that they have failed to terrorise the local population and losing ground.

Note:
1. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.