Srinagar, Dec 24: A retired senior superintendent of police (SSP) was shot dead by terrorists on Sunday morning while he was giving call for morning prayers at a local mosque in Baramulla district, police said.
A police spokesman said retired officer Mohammad Shafi Mir was fired upon at Gantmulla village of Sheeri in Uri area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
“Terrorists fired upon Mohd Shafi, a retired officer at Gantmulla, Sheeri #Baramulla while praying Azan (morning call for prayer) in the mosque and succumbed to injuries,” he said.
Mir, aged 70 and a resident of Gantmulla, Sheeri was a retired officer who had completed his service in 2012. His last assignment was in IRP 13-Battalion in Awantipora.
He is survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter. Mir was guarded by a personal security officer (PSO) but his security was withdrawn recently by the authorities.
Soon after the attack, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) north Kashmir range, SSP Baramulla Amod Ashok Nagpure and senior officers of Army and CRPF rushed to the spot. Teams of J&K Police and Army cordoned off the area to trace and arrest the terrorists involved in the crime
A senior police official told Rising Kashmir that they are thoroughly examining the incident from various perspectives. In addition to probing potential motives tied to rivalry, the investigation is also exploring other possible angles,” he said.
“The victim, Mir, was fatally shot at close range using a 12-bore rifle, and pellets were recovered at the crime scene. According to our findings, the assailant reportedly shattered a mosque windowpane close to the staircase where Mir was standing for Azan,” the official said.
The official said that initial indications pointed towards a terrorist attack, but the type of weapon used in the killing of the retired officer has prompted an exploration of alternative possibilities.
“The investigations are currently in progress, and we are examining the incident from all possible angles. Once the investigation is concluded, all relevant information will be disclosed to the public,” he added.
Mir’s killing plunged the entire Gantamulla locality of Baramulla into a state of mourning, sending shock waves throughout the community.
His family and locals who gathered at his residence to offer condolences, the distressing incident unfolded during the Fajr (Pre-dawn prayers) Azaan, marked by the sound of gunshots.
Upon investigation, they found Mir lying in Masjid. He was immediately taken to Baramulla hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.
Abdul Karim, a close relative of slain officer said Mir was a regular attendee for Azaan at the mosque, but met a tragic end.
On Sunday morning around 6:05 AM, he was performing Azan and reached the phrase ‘Ashhadu Anna Muhammada Rasulallah’ when a loud noise disrupted the call through the loudspeaker. Abruptly stopping, he couldn’t complete the Azaan as he was shot.
“Initially we thought it might be due to high blood pressure, but moments later, my daughter told me devastating news that Mohammad Shafi was no more,” he said.
Karim recalled his daughter urging him, “Papa, are you still sitting? Shafi uncle is no more. After that, locals rushed Mir to the hospital in Baramulla. We received a message from there that he was shot and had 4-5 bullets, he added.
Another local, Ghulam Nabi said Mir Sahab dedicated his post-service years to community welfare, it is a big loss to our community, he was helpful and had become hope for many in his locality.
Mohammed Mustafa Mir, brother of the deceased, said they heard some unusual noise during Azan, initially thought that it may be a technical fault in the microphone.
“Our village Gantamulla’s has been peaceful as always, emphasizing that the community, known for its tranquility even during challenging times, could hardly have anticipated such a tragic event involving gunfire,” he said.
Mustafa said that their family is seeking justice and demand accountability for the perpetrators of this senseless and inhumane act.
As news of the killing spread, Shafi’s hometown Sheeri was engulfed in shock and sorrow. To address the situation, additional security personnel were swiftly deployed to the area, conducting searches to apprehend the assailants.
The funeral prayers for Shafi drew hundreds of villagers, marking an emotional farewell for the retired police officer survived by his wife and two children, one of whom serves as a teacher.
Amid poignant scenes, Shafi was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard in Gantmulla village.
Earlier, On December 9, police constable Mohammad Hafiz Chad was attacked near his house at Hamdaniya Colony Bemina. He received serious injuries.
On December 7, inspector Masroor Ahmad Wani succumbed to his injuries. He was attacked by terrorists on October 29.
“Cowards responsible for this barbaric act will not be spared”: LG Sinha
Condemns former police officer’s killing
Srinagar, Dec 24 Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed condolences on the demise of former senior Jammu and Kashmir Police officer Mohd Shafi, who was shot dead by terrorists while offering prayers at a mosque in Baramulla on Sunday, saying that “cowards responsible for this barbaric act will not be spared.”
LG Sinha said that he is pained beyond words by the dastardly terrorist attack on retired police officer while he was giving a call for prayer in a mosque.
“Pained beyond words on the dastardly terrorist attack on retired police officer, Shri Mohammad Shafi Mir while he was giving a call for prayer in the mosque. Cowards responsible for this barbaric act will not be spared. My condolences to the bereaved family in this hour of grief,” Office of LG Jammu and Kashmir posted on X.
Amid the ongoing search for terrorists in the forests of Rajouri after an ambush attack claimed the lives of four soldiers, unidentified terrorists on Sunday opened fire at the former police officer while he was offering prayers at a mosque at Gantmulla in the Baramulla district.
The slain former police officer was identified as Mohd Shafi, according to Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Terrorists opened fire on the retired police officer while he was offering prayers at a mosque, the police added.
Villagers and family members of Safi paid their last tribute to him by offering prayers.
Earlier in the day, the family members of the deceased retired police officer mourned his loss.
Speaking to ANI, Abdulkareem Mir, the younger brother of Shafi, said, “He was the senior superintendent of police (SSP) and retired from service in 2012. He was a regular at the mosque for ‘Aazan’. However, this morning, Shafi (the muezzin, who calls fellow Muslims to prayer) stopped suddenly in between his call for Aazan. At first, we thought that the microphone had stopped working. However, later, we learned to our absolute shock and dismay that he had been fatally shot.”
Meanwhile, the area was cordoned off in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
“Terrorists fired upon Shri Mohd Shafi, a retired police officer at Gantmulla, Sheeri #Baramulla, while praying Azan in the mosque and succumbed to injuries. The area has been cordoned off. Further details awaited,” the Kashmir Zone Police posted from their official X handle. (ANI)
