Srinagar: Forty-three civilians including 8 BJP workers, a kid and a Block Development Chairman lost their lives in different militancy related incidents across Jammu and Kashmir this year.
The BJP workers who were gunned down by militants include Waseem Bari, his brother Umar Sheikh and father Bashir Sheikh of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district, Abdul Hamid Najar of Ompora Budgam, Yuva Morcha General Secretary for Kulgam Fida Hussain and Umar Ramzan of YK Pora and Haroon Rashid Beigh of Sopat Kulgam.
Militants also abducted and subsequently killed Khonmou Panch Nisar Ahmed alias Kobra whose body was recovered from Dangam Shopian village. He was reportedly associated with BJP but the party later on disowned him.
Militants also shot dead BDC Chairman Bhopindar Singh in Dalwash Budgam.
Besides political killings, a youth Irfan Ahmed allegedly died in police custody in North Kashmir’s Sopore town and an inquiry is still going on to fix the responsibility of his death. Paramilitary troopers gunned down a civilian Mehrajuddin Shah of Makhama Beerwah after he allegedly didn’t stop at a barricade in Kawoosa Narbal area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district this year. Besides, a mentally unsound youth was killed in ‘cross-fire’ in Handwara.
A four year child Nihan Bhat was also killed in South Kashmir’s Bijbehara town when suspected militants lobbed a grenade that besides killing a child also resulted in the death of a trooper Sham Lal of 90 Battalion.
Those who were killed in cross border shelling and firing include two army porters Mohammad Aslam, 28, son of Mohammad Sadeeq and Altaf Hussain, 23, son of Noor Din, both residents of Kasalian, Gulpur of Poonch, Muhammad Salim (61) of Dhani Sadpora village of Karnah Kupwara, Zeeshan Bashir of Tumana village, Shameema Begum, of Reddi, Chowkibal and Javed Ahmed Khan of Reddi-Chowkibal, Akhtar Begum wife of Zahoor Cheechi of Uri town of Baramulla, Reshma Bibi of Balakote Poonch, Muhammad Arif of Rangwar Kupwara, 65 year old man Sadiq Ahmed of Poonch and Muhammad Yakub Mir of Tanghdar.
Suspected militants shot dead Ghulam Nabi Mir of Tral Payeen, an auto driver Mehrajuddin Bhat at Redwani Bala in Kulgam, Wasim Ahmed at Tarigami Kulgam, Ghulam Hasan Wagay and Sirajuddin Gorsi at Redwani area of Kulgam, Muhammad Saleem Dar at Fathepora Larkipora.
A civilian Jahangir Ahmed of Hathmula Pulwama was killed at Beighpora when the protesters were protesting against the killing of Hizb Commander Reyaz Naikoo. Bashir Ahmed also an ex-soldier was shot dead by militants at Bachroo Kulgam.
A civilian Basim Ajaz form Chotabazar who was injured near Nawakadal encounter site after he came under a concrete wall succumbed to his injuries. Two more civilians Fayaz Ahmed Bhat of Jamalata and Manzoor Ahmed from Nawakadal died in this incident on the day of Eid-ul-Fitar on May 24.
Unknown gunmen shot dead mentally retarded person Azad Ahmed Dar at Dadoora Kangan Pulwama. A woman Kousar Reyaz was shot dead by troopers during a gun fight in Batamaloo area of Srinagar.
Advocate Babar Qadri was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Hawal area of Srinagar.
A youth identified as Yasin Maqbool Rather of Sirhama Bijbehara died in a mysterious blast after the culmination of encounter at Sirhama.
Unknown gunmen also shot dead a former militant Tanvir Ahmed Sofi in Ratnipora Pulwama. (KNT)
