Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi on Thursday arrived in Srinagar to review the overall security situation in Jammu & Kashmir in the backdrop of lieutenant Ummer Fayaz’s killing and unrelenting student protests across the Valley. Mehrishi called upon Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti at her official residence.
Meanwhile, the police have identified three Hizbul Mujahideen militants in the sensational abduction and subsequent killing of the young Army officer lt Ummer Fayaz in south Kashmir’s Shopian district.
The Governor and the Home Secretary held extensive discussions about issues relating to effective maintenance of law and order. They also discussed matters relating to the security situation along the International Border and line of Control, increasing attempts of infiltration and growing incidence of militancy in the Valley.
Mehrishi is scheduled to hold meeting with top civil, police and Army officers to review the security situation in the state.
Home Secretary’s visit comes a day after a young Kashmiri Army officer was abducted and killed by unidentified gunmen in south Kashmir’s Shopian district.
Fayaz’s bullet-riddled body was found in Harmain village on Wednesday morning, few kilometres away from Batpora where he was abducted from his maternal uncle’s home. The off-duty officer had arrived to attend his cousin’s marriage, now cancelled after his murder.
“We have identified three local Hizbul Mujahideen militants for their involvement in the murder. The investigation is in the initial stage,” Superintendent of Police Shopian, Ambarkar Shriram Dinkar told The Pioneer.
The militants had scaled the compound wall of the house and abducted the 23-year-old officer. Police have identified at least three militants, suspected to be involved in the incident.
Based on investigations, Dinkar identified the militants as Ishfaq Thokar, Mohammad Abbas Bhat and Ghayasuddin. These militants, all local residents, have been active in the area for quite some time and have surfaced in recently released videos.