Farooq Khan, Adviser to J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, on Monday described the large participation of people at a police officer’s funeral in the Valley as a sign of the “changing times”, and said “people will teach the self-styled mujahids a lesson soon”.
Hundreds of residents participated in the funeral of sub-inspector Arshid Ashraf Mir, who was shot dead by a militant near the Khanyar police station in Srinagar on Sunday.
Mir was buried at his native place at Kalmona in Handwara of north Kashmir on Sunday evening.
“The situation is changing. People’s participation is an indication that people will now teach a lesson to these cowards, who themselves call self-styled mujahids. These cowards will beg for their mercy,” Mr. Khan, a former police officer, said.
Kashmir has witnessed growing attacks on police patrols this year, with five policemen killed in four hit-and-run cases in Srinagar.
Apni Party president Syed Mohammd Altaf Bukhari said the violence in all its manifestations has severely impacted peace, progress and good governance in J&K.
“The impact of armed violence negatively influences development, peace and good governance, often by creating a climate of impunity, corruption and by undermining public institutions,” he said.
Mr. Buhkari appealed to the youth to shun the path of violence and contribute in the promotion of peace and stability in the region.
“The young police officer, who was yet to be confirmed, was killed in cold blood. The incident didn’t inflict miseries to his family alone but added to the already agonising situation in Kashmir,” he added.
