Ex-serviceman killed; wife, cousin injured in J&K terrorist attack

The ex- Army man identified as Manzoor Ahmed Wagay (45) succumbed to his injuries in a Srinagar hospital later whereas the condition of his spouse Aaina Akhter (32) and niece Saina Hameed, daughter of Habibullah Shah, who received bullet injuries in their legs are reported to be “stable”. They are undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College (GMC) hospital in neighbouring Anantnag, the officials said.

The officials blamed the incident on separatist militants and said that the injured were quickly evacuated to a nearby hospital whereas the area was cordoned off to launch an operation to track down the assailants.

The police sources said that ex-Army official Mr. Wagay, a resident of Kulgam’s Behibagh area, and his spouse and niece were targeted by the gunmen outside their home, leaving them injured.

“They were fired upon from point blank range. Mr. Wagay has received bullet wounds in his abdomen and his condition is not any good, but the doctors are trying to revive him,” a police official has told this newspaper over the phone from Kulgam.

The critically injured Mr. Wagay was brought to a Srinagar hospital for advanced treatment, but he succumbed soon thereafter, the police and hospital sources said.

A local news agency KNO quoted Mr. Wagay’s younger brother as saying that he (Wagay) would prefer to spend most of his time at home after his retirement from the Army in 2021. Mr. Wagay, he added, was the sole breadwinner for his family comprising his wife, four daughters and a son.

The unnamed kin of Mr. Wagay told the news agency, “Our only demand is justice and nothing else.”

J&K Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, while strongly condemning the “heinous terrorist attack” said, “The entire nation stands in solidarity with the bereaved family in this hour of grief.” He added, “I have instructed the officials to provide the best possible treatment to the injured. Praying for their speedy recovery”. He assured the people that the perpetrators of this “cowardly attack” will be punished soon.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in a post on X said, “Deeply saddened by the tragic killing of ex-serviceman Manzoor Ahmad Wagay Sahab in Kulgam. My heartfelt condolences to his family, and prayers for the swift recovery of his injured wife and daughter. Such heinous violence has no place in our society and must be condemned in the strongest terms. May peace and justice prevail."

Former Chief Minister and People’s Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti also took to the microblogging site to say, “Terribly saddened to know about the heinous killing of Manzoor Ahmed Wagay by militants in Kulgam today. Deepest condolences to his family & prayers for the swift recovery of his wife & daughter.”

Meanwhile the J&K police on Monday filed a chargesheet against seven persons accusing them of being “terror associates” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) in a Srinagar court.

The case pertains to an encounter that took place between the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants and the security forces in Srinagar’s Khanyar area on November 2 last year. LeT commander Usman Bhai, a Pakistani national, was killed and two members of the J&K police’s counterinsurgency Special Operations Group (SOG) and as many CRPF jawans in the clash.

The police said that the chargesheet has been filed against the slain LeT commander and his seven associates under Sections 13, 18, 20, 23, and 38 of the UA(P) Act, along with Section 7/25 of the Arms Act. “Eight accused were involved in the case, including a Pakistani terrorist operating under the code name Usman, who was neutralised in a police encounter,” a statement issued by the said. It added that the charges have been formally filed against seven individuals for their involvement in various terror-related activities, while an abate challan has been submitted in connection with the deceased Pakistani terrorist.