Cop guarding PDP Chief’s Cousin at Anantnag shot dead, weapon snatched

Srinagar: The Personal Security Officer (PSO) deployed at the residence of PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti’s cousin was shot dead by militants in Bijbehara area of South Kashmir Anantnag district on Friday.
The slain cop, identified as Constable Farooq Ahmad Reshi, was posted as PSO with PDP leader Mufti Sajjad Hussain, who is a cousin of former CM Mehbooba Mufti. According to police officials, suspected militants fired upon the constable outside a mosque in Baba Mohalla Bijbehara area of south Kashmir Anantnag district.
A police officer said that the incident took place when Mufti Sajjad was offering Friday prayers along with his father Mufti Mohammad Amin Ziyarat Baba Naseer-ud-din Gazi. Constable Farooq Ahmad was waiting outside the mosque.
“The militants fired upon him from a close range. The injured cop was rushed to sub-district hospital Bijbehara where he was declared dead on arrival,” the officer said, adding that “the gunmen decamped with the service rifle of the cop.”
A police spokesman said that, to pay homage and respect to Constable Farooq Ahmad, a wreath laying ceremony was held for the slain at District Police Lines (DPL) Anantnag. “Senior police officers including IGP Kashmir, DIG SKR, SSP Anantnag and other officers from CAPF laid floral wreaths on the mortal remains and paid tributes to the slain cop,” the spokesman said.
“Farooq Ahmad’s family is survived by old aged father, brother, wife, 12 years old son Mohsin Farooq, seven years old son Faisal Farooq and two-year-old son Zaid Farooq. We pay our rich tributes to him for his supreme sacrifice made in the line of duty. We stand by his family at this crucial juncture.”