Srinagar, Aug 10: Suspected militants Friday shot dead a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy SP) in Srinagar.
Police said the attack was carried out in the afternoon in Batamaloo area of Srinagar. “Unknown militants shot dead a retired police officer in Batamaloo today while he was coming out of mosque after offering Friday prayers,” a police spokesman said here. He identified him as Dy SP (Rtd) Abdul Hamid Bhat, resident of Moominabad Batamaloo.
Sources in police said the gunmen opened fire with AK 47 rifle. “He had been shot from a close range and fire has been opened from AK 47 rifle,” a senior police officer told Greater Kashmir. “We have registered a case and investigations have been taken up,” he said.
Residents of the area said that they heard the sound of gun shots and ran for safety. “There were several gun shots and later we saw a man lying on the road in a pool of blood,” said Abdul Kabir, a resident of Batamaloo. “He was one among several people coming back from mosque after Friday prayers,” he added.
The incident created panic in the area. Heavy contingents of police and paramilitary CRPF reached the spot and launched a manhunt to trace the people involved in the killing.
Senior police officers including Inspector General Police (IGP) Kashmir SM Sahai, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Central Kashmir Syed Afadul Mujtaba and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar Syed Aashiq Hussain Bukhari visited the incident spot.
Bhat had retired from police service one and a half years ago. He served at important positions in the police.
In 2008, Bhat was transferred from Indian Reserve Police (IRP) 14th Battalion and posted as Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) M R Gunj. Later in June 2010, Bhat was transferred to IRP 8 Battalion from where he retired.
Senior police officers said Bhat was instrumental in tackling stone pelting and anti-Govt protests in his area of jurisdiction as SDPO. He is survived by three daughters.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 10 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 11 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST