Terrorists killed a Special Police Officer (SPO) at his home in Tral on Wednesday, while a schoolteacher was found dead with his throat slit in Shopian district, a week after three terrorists were killed in a gun battle with security forces at his house, police said.
Incidently, both the tragedies occurred on a day when the Army chief was on a visit to the State and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti called upon Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi to discuss the spurt in violence in Kashmir besides several issues confronting the PDP-BJP alliance.
Sources said that unidentified terrorists opened fire on SPO Haleem Gujjar at his residence at Gutroo Village in south Kashmir’s Tral sub-district. He was immediately rushed to hospital but was declared brought dead.
Earlier in the day, police recovered the body of a schoolteacher Aijaz Ahmad lone in an open field a few kilometres from his house at Wathoo Village in Shopian district.
Meanwhile, Mehbooba brief Rajnath about the prevailing situation in Jammu & Kashmir and the steps taken to maintain peace in the State.
During the 30-minute meeting, the Union Home Minister assured Mehbooba of all Central assistance to her Government in maintaining peace in the State, a Home Ministry official said.
The spurt of violence in Jammu & Kashmir includes attacks on security personnel, killing of a PDP worker and the subsequent attack on his house, and mob fury against alleged braid-chopping incidents.
The constitution of a study group to examine the problems being faced by the people living near the International Border and the line of Control in J&K was also believed to have been discussed during the meeting, the official said. The group was set up by the Home Ministry recently.
Rajnath Singh had recently said five to six terrorists are killed by security forces in J&K daily.
The Chief Minister also met Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday reviewed the security situation in Kashmir Valley.
A Defence spokesman said, “The Army chief addressed all officers in Badami Bagh Cantt and praised them for providing excellent military leadership in the most challenging circumstances.”
The Army chief also commended all ranks for their relentless pursuit towards achieving the objective of bringing in peace and normalcy to the Valley, the spokesman said.