Waris Fayaz
Baramulla, Dec 24 : Tragedy struck north Kashmir’s Baramulla district Saturday when a retired Superintendent of Police, Muhammed Shafi Mir—known for his noble character and community service, was shot dead by the unknown gunmen while delivering Azaan (call.for the prayer) in a local mosque.
The incident left everyone in a state mourning and sent shockwaves to the entire locality of Gantamulla, Baramulla.
Mir (70), a resident of Gantmulla, Sheeri in Baramulla was a former senior police officer, who had attained superannuation in the year-2012. He was last posted in IRP 13-Battalion in Awantipora. Slain is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.
Recalling the incident, Mohammed Shafi’s family as well as locals—who were at his residence to offer condolences as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that they heard a heavy sound (gunshots) during Fajr (Pre dawn prayers) Azaan and after coming out of their homes, found him lying in a Masjid, which prompted them to took him to the Baramulla hospital, where doctors who attended him declared Mir as brought dead.
Regular at the mosque for Azaan (the call for prayers), Mir’s cousin brother Abdul Karim said that his martyred cousin was as usual delivering Azaan and upon reaching ‘Ashhadu Anna Muhammada Rasulallah’, a loud noise was heard through loudspeaker and he suddenly stopped and couldn’t complete the Azaan, as he was shot. “At first I thought he might have fallen due to high blood pressure and didn’t pay much attention, however, after a few minutes, my daughter arrived to me with the news that Moahammad Shafi is no more”, he said.
“Papa are you still sitting, Shafi uncle is no more”, Karim said quoting his daughter. Mir was taken to hospital in Baramulla by locals. “We received a message from there that Muhammed Shafi was shot and had 4-5 bullets”, Karim said
He said that Mir dedicated his post-service years to community welfare. “His commitment to uplifting others defined him, his tragic loss leaves a void that words can’t fill, Karim added. Let his killers face the brunt,” he further added.
Similarly, Mohammed Shafi’s brother, Mohammed Mustafa Mir while recalling the incident said that while in Azaan, a kind of noise was heard which they thought might be because of a technical fault in the microphone as that was repaired by him recently after developing a snag. Gantamulla is considered as a peaceful village, as it remained calm and peaceful during the tough times, so, hardly anyone could have thought of a gunshot in the village, he said.
“I was informed by my daughter-in-law of hue and cry outside and after enquiring we found him of being shot dead by some unknown gunmen”, he added.
Mustafa while continuing that his brother was a very noble person who after attaining the superannuation in the year 2012 was busy with the household chores and agriculture activities. He had no political affiliations, no enemies at all, he was a man of principles, he said.
The family, however, seeks justice and demands the killers be brought to account for this senseless inhumane act.
The assassination of a retired Police officer, who was known for his noble character and services to the community, has left the entire area in a state of shock and sorrow. With the residents grappling with the loss of Mir are remembering him as a compassionate individual who had no known enemies. Calling for a thorough investigation to bring the assailants to justice.
Investigating agencies must thoroughly probe the incident and should ensure that such incidents should not repeat. It was he today, tomorrow it could be anyone among us, they reiterated.
“We as a community and are equally sharing the weight of his departure. His tragic passing is not just a loss but a testament to his martyrdom. Mir’s echoes of his prayers and the resonance of his selfless deeds will forever linger in the collective memory of our community”, Haji Jaleel Ahmed, a cleric said amidst a heavy heart.
Terming the incident as very unfortunate, Advocate Muneeb, a native said that killing of the retired SP is an unfortunate and deeply tragic incident that has cast a shadow over the community. “Our hearts mourn collectively and we stand united in condemning this senseless act of violence that has left an irreplaceable void in our society, he said, adding that there must be a thorough investigation, ” he said.
Meanwhile, amidst a sombre atmosphere, hundreds of mourners gathered to bid a tearful farewell to the retired SP, who fell victim to a terrorist attack. The funeral prayers resonated with prayers for peace and justice with the mourners expressing their condolences and solidarity with the grieving Mir family.
Meanwhile, following the incident, the security establishments while responding quickly to this episode laid a cordon and search operation in the area to nab the attacker, however, preliminary reports suggest that the gunmen fled the scene immediately after the attack. The efforts to identify and nab the perpetrators are underway.
Notably, in a post on X (earlier Twitter), Kashmir zone police on Sunday morning said that the retired superintendent of Police was shot dead while giving a prayer call (Azan) in a mosque, adding that the whole area was cordoned off following the attack.
“Terrorists fired upon Shri Mohd Shafi, a retired police officer at Gantmulla, Sheeri Baramulla, while praying Azan in the mosque and succumbed to injuries. Area has been cordoned off. Further details awaited”, a tweet reads.
It’s worth mentioning that earlier on October 31 this year, a head constable Ghulam Mohammed Dar, who was posted at district police lines in Srinagar was shot dead by the terrorists near his residence at Wailoo area of Pattan in Baramulla—(KNO)
