Kidnapped Army Officer From Kashmir Tortured Before He Was Killed: Sources
Army officer Ummer Fayaz was kidnapped by terrorists when we went to attend a function in Kulgam.
New Delhi: The young army officer, who had been kidnapped from a family function by terrorists in Kashmir last night, was subjected to horrific torture before he was murdered. Sources said the body of 22-year-old Ummer Fayaz, a Lieutenant of the Rajputana Rifles, bore multiple injuries, indicating heavy beating. There were gunshot wounds on his jaw and abdomen.
His body was found early this morning in Shopian, around 30 km from his village, where he had gone to attend a cousin's wedding. He was dragged out of the function around 10 pm by three armed men. The panic-stricken family had not reported it, hoping he would be released alive.
Ummer Fayaz had joined the army five months ago and had taken leave to go to Kashmir. A graduate from the National Defence Academy, he had gone to Kashmir unarmed, despite knowing the risks, his fellow officers said.
Major Avdesh Choudhary, who trained him at the regimental centre in Delhi, said he thought he had to "keep an eye on him". "I found he overshadowed the others because of his enthusiasm. He wanted to prove something. There was a spark in his eyes. That's what I liked about him," he said.
The targeting of an off-duty army officer is a first in the Kashmir Valley, where increasing reports have come of attacks on police officers, especially in south Kashmir, which is a stronghold of terrorists. In most such instances, the officer is beaten and robbed of his weapon. Recently, the state had even advised its police officers not to visit their ancestral homes.
Last week, security forces carried out a huge anti-terror operation across two dozen villages in Shopian. As they were about to wind up, a sudden strike by terrorists killed one civilian and injured two soldiers.
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