A young Kashmiri Army officer from South Kashmir’s Kulgam district was shot dead by unknown gunmen on Tuesday night. Lieutenant Dr Umar Fayaz Parray, according to his relatives was picked up by unidentified gunmen from his maternal home at Matribugh Batapora village of Shopian district and his dead body was found on Wednesday morning at Harmein hamlet of the same district.A relative of the slain Army officer told news agency CNS that Umar was posted at Akhnoor and had arrived in Valley to attend the marriage ceremony of one of his cousins. “On Tuesday he visited one of his relatives in Anantnag and later on he went to his maternal home where her mother Jameela Bano was already present. At around 9:30 on Tuesday evening, some unknown gunmen barged into the house and asked Umar to accompany him. When family members requested them to leave him, they assured that after questioning he will be released. After an hour, we heard some gunshots. Whole night we couldn’t sleep and on Wednesday morning news reached to us that Umar’s bullet riddled body has been found in Harmain village,” he said.
He added that they did not inform the police with a hope that Umar will be released shortly.After postmortem, the body was handed over to his family at Sudsoonu Kulgam. Reports said that youth pelted stones on police party when the rifle of a cop allegedly went off accidently, a report refuted by a police official. Witnesses added that government forces fired some shots in air to disperse the stone-pelters.The slain army officer was the lone son of apple farmer Fayaz Ahmed Parray. He is survived by parents and two sisters.Reports said that some top army officials visited the bereaved family. The army virtually cordoned off the area to maintain order. Gun salute was given to the slain army officer.A large number of people participated in his last rites. He was buried with full military honours.Meanwhile calling it a “dastardly act”, the Indian Army, in a statement said it “salutes the braveheart and stands by the bereaved family in this hour of tragedy”.Indian Defence Minister Arun Jaitley in his series of tweets said: “Lt. Ummer Fayaz of 2RAJRIF was an exceptional sportsman, his sacrifice reiterates nation's commitment to eliminate terrorism from the Valley. We share the grief of family of Lt. Ummer Fayaz & stand in solidarity. Lt. Ummer Fayaz will continue to inspire youth from the Valley.” (CNS)