Srinagar, June 23: The 25-year-old mobile shop owner was shot dead by unknown gunmen, suspected to be militants at Habba Kadal area of Srinagar on Wednesday evening, official said.

“At about 2015 hours, (militants) fired upon a mobile shop owner inside his shop at Main Chowk Habba Kadal,” a police spokesman said in a statement.

He has been identified as Umer Nazir Bhat son of Nazir Ahmad Bhat resident of Kelashpora Habakadal. “In this incident, Umer received critical gunshot injuries and was shifted to nearby (SMHS) hospital for the treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries.”

Senior police officers reached at the incident spot, he said. “Investigation into the matter is in progress and officers continue to work to establish the circumstances which lead to this (incident). Area has been cordoned off and search in the area is going on.”

IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that these innocent killings of civilian and local policemen are being committed by local militants of LeT (self claimed as TRF) on the instruction of militant Abbas Sheikh. “They have been indulging in the incidents for money being paid by Pakistani handlers. (they) are falsely labelling these innocent persons as informers to hide their sin,” he said.

This post was published on June 23, 2021