Srinagar/May,13: The Army on Saturday said a school had been renamed after Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz — killed by gunmen in south Kashmir — and his family handed over a cheque for Rs 75 lakh. Meanwhile Army chief General Bipin Rawat has called upon all Kashmiris to “condemn the killing of the young and unarmed Kashmiri Army officer”, Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz, reports said.
The cheque for Rs 75 lakh was from the Army Group Insurance Fund, apart from another cheque for Rs one lakh from the martyr’s regiment — Rajputana Rifles.
“Major General B.S. Raju, the General Officer Commanding of the Victor Force, visited the bereaved family members in Kulgam district and assured them that the Army stands by them and will always be ready to help”, Defence Ministry Spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia told IANS here.
“The GOC assured the family that those responsible for Lt. Ummer’s dastardly murder will be brought to justice. The GOC announced renaming of an Army school in the area as ‘Lt. Ummer Fayaz Goodwill School’,” he added.
The unarmed officer, on leave to visit his home in Kulgam, was kidnapped by while attending the marriage of his maternal uncle’s daughter in Batapura village around 10 p.m. on May 9.
His bullet-riddled body was found on Wednesday morning (May 10) at Harmen in Shopian district.
The officer, from Rajputana Rifles, had joined the Army in December last year.
Police has since issued posters of three militants blaming them for the officer’s kidnapping and subsequent murder
Meanwhile Army chief General Bipin Rawat has called upon all Kashmiris to “condemn the killing of the young and unarmed Kashmiri Army officer”, Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz, reports said.
“The young officer was a role model for all young Kashmiris. The way things are, this action has taken Kashmiris back while Lieutenant Ummer was taking it forward. He was encouraging other young people to join a force which the whole country is proud of,” The Indian Express quoted Gen Rawat as saying.
Lt Fayaz was kidnapped and killed by gunmen in Shopian district on Wednesday. “These people are discouraging Kashmiris from availing job opportunities while thousands of people line up for police recruitment. How can they explain this dichotomy? This act (of Lieutenant Ummer’s murder) should be condemned by all Kashmiris.”
