Four policemen were killed when militants detonated a powerful Improvised Explosive Device in Sopore town of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Saturday morning. The incident occurred at Gol Market main chowk in Sopore at a time when town was observing a shutdown against the massacre by BSF in 1993 in which 57 people were killed.Sources told news agency CNS that militants had planted the IED beneath the shop front where cops usually take rest during the time of protest or shutdown in the town.Witnesses said that all the four cops present near the shop died on spot. Panic gripped in the town after the blast. Restrictions were imposed and people didn’t venture out from their houses. A police official said IED blast took place at Sopore market planted by militatns, resulting in death of four police personnel of IRP 3rd Bn who were identified as ASI Irshad Ahmad EXK number 825685 resident of Doda about 58 years old, Constable Ghulam Nabi Belt number 720/IRP 3rd resident of Rohama Rafiaabad, Constable Parvaiz Ahmad Belt number 915/IRP 3rd resident of Vilgam Handwara, Constable Mohammad Amin Belt number 470/IRP 3rd resident of Sogam Kupwara.
ASI Irshad Ahmad is survived by aged mother about 72 years old, wife, two sons Nadeem Irshad about 19 years old, Sahil Irshad about 10 years old, two daughters Fiza Irshad about 16 years old, and Toiba Bano about 13 years old.Constable Mohammad Amin is survived by aged mother, wife, minor son Tajam-ul-Islam about 04 years old, a brother and three sisters.Constable Parvaiz Ahmad is survived by aged father, wife, minor son Mohammad Noman about 03 years old, unmarried sister and three brothers.Constable Ghulam Nabi is survived by aged parents, pregnant wife, minor daughter Faheeqa Nabi about 04 years old, two brothers and two unmarried sisters. To pay homage to the slain police personnel, , a wreath laying ceremony was held at District Police Lines Sopore.Additional Director General of Police Munir Ahmad Khan led police officers and jawans in laying floral wreaths on the mortal remains of the martyrs.Among others who presented wreaths and flowers included IGP Armed Ahfadul Mujtaba, SSP Sopore Harmeet Singh, SSP Baramulla Imtiyaz Hussain, CO’s of 22 RR and 179 Bn CRPF, all DySsP and jawans of the district. (CNS)