In yet another incident of target killing, armed unidentified gunmen shot dead a former militant during wee hours in Mandji hamlet of restive Sopore town in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.The deceased was identified as Ajaz Ahmed Reshi son of Abdul Rahim Reshi, a resident of Mandji Sopore. According to Police, the deceased was shot dead by two pistol borne unidentified militants outside a chemist shop when he was waiting there for some medical examination. Police sources told CNS that two pistol borne militants appeared outside the medical shop. “One of them asked Ajaz to come here and as he tried to proceed towards them, one of the militants fired two bullets on his head, resulting in his on spot death.”
The slain youth was shifted to District Hospital Sopore where doctors declared him brought dead. Eyewitnesses told CNS that soon after the death large number of people came out from their houses and amid pro-freedom and anti-India and anti-state government slogans pelted stones on the police party that had arrived in the area.
On June 9 unidentified gunmen shot dead a pharmacist and an activist of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Sheikh Altaf of Iqbal Nagar Sopore at New Colony Sopore. Separatists and the family blamed Indian secret agencies for the killing.On June 12 again unidentified gunmen appeared and shot dead a shopkeeper and Hurriyat G activist Khurshid Ahmed Bhat at Bomai Sopore. On June 14 unknown gunmen shot dead former militant Mehrajuddin Dar at Badambagh Sopore while on Monday morning of June 15 unidentified gunmen shot dead former militant Ajaz Ahmed Reshi at Mundji Sopore. According to family sources, Ajaz Ahmed Reshi was arrested by police in 2007 for his affiliation with militant outfit Harkatul Mujhadeen. “He was released in 2010 from Sub Jail Baramulla. In 2011 again he was put behind the bars for five months. Since then, he was not affiliated with any organization. He took to farming and was living a peaceful life. We fail to understand why he was killed. He didn’t harm anyone,” one of the family members told CNS.
The grandfather of the slain youth was an active member of socio-religious organization Jammat-e-Islami. Hundreds of people participated in the funeral procession of the slain youth. He was buried in local grave yard. The killing evoked spontaneous shutdown in Sopore and violent clashes in Baramulla where police resorted to tear gas shelling to disperse the agitated youth. All the business establishments and shops, educational institutions remained shut in Sopore. Meanwhile, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah criticised the incumbent Mufti Mohammad Sayeed after the civilian was shot dead. The National Conference leader took to twitter to share his views. "Another shooting in Sopore! It's going from bad to worse there & yet apologists for this govt and it's CM will tell you things are great in JK," he posted. (CNS)