Cop killed, 4 others injured in Bandipora attack
SPO laid to rest amid sobs and tears
Suhail Rather
Bandipora, Feb 11: A Special Police Officer (SPO) was killed while 4 other security personnels were injured in a militant attack in Bandipora town on Friday afternoon.
Reports said that militants hurled a grenade over a naka party stationed near Nishat Park Bandipora at about 4:50pm.
Five cops including an Assistant Sub Inspector of BSF were injured in the attack. One cop identified as Zubair Ahmad Shah Son of Ab Rashid Shah Resident of Papchan Bandipora succumbed to the injuries while two critically injured cops were referred to army’s base hospital in Srinagar for specialized treatment.
The injured have been identified as Head Constable Mohammad Shafi of Sonamarg, Constable Mohammad Yasir of Quil Muqam, constable Rayees Ahmad Mader of Mader and a BSF jawan has been identified as ASI Umesh Singh.
Soon after the attack, more forces reached the spot and cordoned off the entire area to nab the attackers. This is the second attack in the town. On December 1o last year militants attacked a police party in the heart of the town near Gulshan Chowk killing two cops on the spot.
Following the attack, surveillance and security was beefed up in the town with establishment of more check points and mobile bunkers at the entry of town.
Meanwhile a pall of gloom descended upon neighboring Papchan when news about the killing of SPO Zubair reached his home. Slain lives barely one kilometer away from the spot where he was killed in the line of duty.
Locals reached the house of the slain cop to console the bereaved family. Amid sobs and tears, the body of Zubair Ahmad was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard in which hundreds of people participated.
Locals remembered Zubair as the most humble boy in the area who was always helpful to the people and would offer prayers five times a day. He was recently engaged to a girl in the neighborhood and was expected to get married by the end of this year.
