Assistant sub inspector, J&K Armed Police (JKAP) Irshad Ahmed, who was killed in an IED blast in Sopore town of Baramullah district yesterday, was buried on Sunday with full state honour here.
However, the bereaved family flayed the government for “not providing chopper to airlift the body of the deceased and demanded immediate relief.”
The slain cop was buried at his home town in Bhadarwah, about 200 km from Jammu, after an 11-gun salute, SP Doda, Muhammad Shabir Khatana told Greater Kashmir.
Militants on Saturday morning carried out a deadly IED blast in Sopore town of Baramulla district killing four policemen including ASI Irshad Ahmed.
Meanwhile, the relatives of the slain officer at Bhadarwah alleged that they were denied chopper service by the government to airlift the body of the deceased and said the family had to wait for 15 hours to receive the body.
“Hundreds of people from entire district gathered at our place and were waiting for the chopper to come, but we had to wait for 15 long hours to receive the body that we received at 11.30 PM.
“This is inhuman on the part of the government and the department,” said Wajahat Hussain, retired head constable and maternal uncle of the slain police officer.
“Irshad was the only bread winner of the family and is survived by his wife, 4 children, ailing mother and two younger brothers.
“My appeal to DGP is to expedite the relief process for the sake of his family, as we have a bad experience of the past when my another nephew Farooq Ahmad, who was also in police was killed by the militants at Sharekhi village and we had to wait for the relief for 5 long years,” Hussain added.
When contacted SSP Doda Mohammad Shabir Khatana, who was present along with DDC Doda Bhawani Rakwal and other officers from district administration at the wreath laying ceremony said, “As of now, we don’t have any provision to airlift the body, but we tried our best for smoothen the transportation by deploying ROP (road opening) all along the highway.”
“As per departmental rules, immediate relief of Rs 1 lakh has been handed over to family. Ex gratia relief and other benefits under SRO 43 under new policy of DGP, Dr S P Vaid will be provided to the family at the earliest,” the SSP added.