Kidnapped Army officer found killed in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Terrorists abducted and shot dead Umar Fayaz Parray, a 22-year-old lieutenant of the Indian Army, in the Shopian district of south Kashmir on Tuesday night. Parray’s relatives said three terrorists dragged him from the wedding function of his cousin in Batapora area of Shopian late Tuesday evening.

Later, his bullet-ridden body was found in an orchard in nearby Hermain village.

Parray, a resident of Sursun village of Kulgam district, had joined the Army in December 2016 and belonged to 2 Rajputana Rifles. He was posted in Akhnoor sector of Jammu and was on leave.

J&K Police have already alerted its personnel hailing from south Kashmir to exercise extreme caution while visiting their homes. J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti condemned the killing of Parray and conveyed her sympathies to the bereaved family.

“What was more painful to note is that the young officer had come home on vacation where he was attending the marriage of his cousin,” said Mufti. Former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah, tweeted, “That the militants kidnapped an Army officer and murdered him shows a new mindset devoid of fear of retribution or revenge.”