Militants first snatched his phone and later returned to kidnap him after 15 minutes, said the police who are investigating the killing of a BSF constable Muhammad Ramzan Parray here in a militant attack.
According to the police, the constable was talking on the phone at the river bank on Wednesday night, some distance away from home, when he was confronted by the militants. The officials say the militants took away his phone. "We assume they might have seen his pictures in BSF uniform in his home and they returned to kidnap him."
At the police station Hajan, where the body of the BSF constable was brought for the wreath laying ceremony, Showkat, who is a painter by profession, said four masked gunmen on Wednesday evening barged into their house and tried to take away Ramzan. He said they were repeatedly asking for his identity card. He said the family resisted but the gunmen fired at Ramzan and killed him.
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"The gunmen also stabbed two other members of the family including two brothers of the BSF constable, his aunt, and his father," said Showkat. According to the police officials, Ramzan's father's condition is still critical.
Showkat, whose clothes were drenched in blood, said they rushed the injured to the hospital.
According to senior police officials the BSF constable, who was on leave for 25 days was shot from a short range and had received five bullets.
Police say a number of foreign militants, mostly belonging to Lashker Toiba, operate in the area, which serves as transit route. According to the police sources, around 22 militants were operating in the belt.
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"The constable Mohammad Ramzan of 73 Battalion BSF was on leave and living with his family, when he was attacked. He was posted in Baramulla with his battalion," said a BSF spokesperson.
"All BSF personnel, resident of Kashmir, have been advised to remain cautious of terrorist activities during leave. Constable Mohd Ramzaan was also advised so by battalion authorities before proceeding on leave", the spokesperson said. "Jammu and Kashmir Police have already issued such an advisory," he added.
The spokesman said some Urdu speaking militants barged into the house of constable Mohammad Ramzan's house, where he was sitting with his elder brothers and father. "The armed terrorist asked for ID card of martyred constable, to which Mohammad Ramzaan reacted and valiantly fought with the terrorists. He almost succeeded in taking away the weapon but other accompanying terrorist attacked Ramzan with a harp-edged weapon. Brave constable Mohd Ramzaan fought till his last breath", the BSF spokesman said.
The BSF said militant group was headed by Abu Muslim and all of them belong to LeT. Sources say all militants were foreigners.
The police said they have launched an operation in surrounding areas to eliminate the militants.
Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti condemned the killing of off-duty BSF constable. The Chief Minister said that it is unfortunate that he was killed when he had come home to join his family during his holidays. She said it is regrettable that the unending cycle of violence in the State is taking a heavy toll of our society, particularly the young and appealed all segments of society to join in putting an end to it. Mehbooba Mufti has conveyed her sympathies to the bereaved family and also wished the family members a speedy recovery who were injured in the shooting.
