Kounsar Bashir
The Bhat family in Harparigam had just finished eating their dinner and were going to bed when there was a sudden knock at the door, they opened the door and saw some masked gunmen. Before the family could respond to this and make sense of what was happening, the masked gunmen opened indiscriminate firing and injured three family members.
The house was that of a 50-year-old special Police officer of Jammu Kashmir Police named, Fayaz Ahmed Bhat aged 50, whose son is posted with the 55 Rashtriya Rifles of Indian Army. Fayaz, a resident of Harparigam in the Awantipora area of Pulwama died on the spot, his wife Raja Begum and daughter Rafiya Jan, succumbed to their injuries while being treated at the hospital.
The masked gunmen forced their way into their home around 11 pm and started firing indiscriminately at the family, a Police official said.
When Fayaz was trying to protect himself from the gunmen before he was shot in his head, the two family members present in the house tried to intervene and they too received bullet wounds.
Fayaz Ahmad Bhat is a Special Police Officer (SPO) in Jammu Kashmir police. Two years ago, he was threatened to resign, but he never did. The Slain cop’s son Liyaqat Fayaz is a jawan in Territorial Army and is stationed in 55 Rashtriya Rifle camp in Police district Awantipora.
Liayaqat married two years ago. and is has a family of three members which include son and wife.
Mourners, both women and men packed in large numbers reached the family of the slain, where several people joined to offer the funeral prayers to the slain family members.
The Inspector-General of Jammu Kashmir Police said that two foreign Militants of Jaish e Muhammad likely are responsible for the killing.
“There is a movement of Jaish militants in the area and it seems that two foreign militants have carried out the attack,” IGP Kashmir said.
However, a new militant group called the “United Liberation Front (ULF)” operating in Jammu Kashmir claimed the responsibility hours after the attack.
“ULF J&K, Tral attack…. warning for all the stooges and collaborators. A family of traitors… He was the son of the notorious Ikhwani. He and his family were involved in Anti-Kashmir cause activities. They got what they deserve….” ULF posted the message on a telegram channel.
Political Reactions
The National Conference leader Omar Abdullah condemned the ‘cowardly attack and said, “I unreservedly condemn the dastardly and cowardly militant attack on the Jammu Kashmir police SPO Fayaz Ahmed, his wife and his young daughter at their home last night. I pray they receive their place in Jannat and their loved ones find strength during this terrible time.”
The former Chief Minister of Jammu Kashmir and PDP president, Mehbooba Mufti, tweeted, “No words are strong enough to condemn the cowardly attack in Awantipora that claimed the lives of a JKP officer Fayaz Ahmad, his wife & daughter. May Allah Ta’aala grant them Maghfirat & their loved ones the fortitude to bear this loss.”