Sopore, February 19, 2012: Unidentified gunmen shot dead a 22-year-old mechanic in Sopore town on Sunday evening. The unidentified gunmen knocked at the door of the house of Umar Rasool Kaboo, son of Ghulam Rasool Kaboo a resident of Arampora locality in Sopore town and asked him to come out at Arampora in Sopore at around 7.30 pm.
“He was shot dead outside from point blank range in his head,” police sources told media men in Sopore. The locals said they removed Umar to the nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead. “He was a mechanic. We don’t know why he was killed,” locals said.
Ghulam Rasool, 62, father of victim told media men that his son was killed by “unknown persons” outside his house on Sunday evening. “I don’t know who killed my son and why was he killed. I seek probe into the incident,” he said.
SP Sopore, Imtiyaz Hussain told media men that police have seized the mobile of the deceased and calls that he received were being traced. The
The incident created panic in the area with hundreds of people rushing to Umar’s residence and complete strike was observed in the town on February 20. This is the second attack of its kind on civilians in Sopore in last four days.
Earlier, unidentified gunmen had fired at a shopkeeper 25-year-old, Pervez Ahmad War, 25, son of Ghulam Ahmad resident of Aftab Mohalla Warpora at Warpora Sopore. He escaped unhurt on Saturday Feb 18.
The Hurriyet leaders in their separate statements has strongly denounced the killing and said that the Indian armed agents are behind the killing of youth in Sopore. They demanded probe.
Superintendent of police Sopore Imtiyaz Hussain said Kaboo was shot dead outside from point blank range in his head. “The killing was unexpected. We have registered a case and investigations are on to nab the killers,” said Hussain.
The victim, a mechanic by profession, was buried on Monday morning with hundreds participating in the funeral.
The traders of Sopore have demanded an investigation of the killing thoroughly. In this connection, the traders of apple town today held a meeting and said that they are feeling insecure. “The killings by unidentified gunmen and other recent attacks have brought worries. We are feeling insecure and nothing can be predicted,” the traders said. “We demand a through investigation into the killings and killers should be unveiled with no time,” they added.
“He (Omar) was not associated with any organization. We demand a probe so that culprits are brought to book,” said Traders Association Sopore said.
The incident created panic. Complete shutdown was observed on February 20, against the killing. All the shops and other business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the roads. People thronged the residence of Omar to express sympathy with bereaved family.
Earlier on January 7, Mehrajuddin Hajam, a resident of Hajin in Bandipore district working at a shop in Sopore town was killed in troops shoot out during a cordon and search operation launched by police and Indian paramilitary forces.