"Cowards responsible for this barbaric act will not be spared": J-K LG condemns former police officer's killing

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], December 24 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed condolences on the demise of former senior Jammu and Kashmir Police officer Mohd Shafi, who was shot dead by terrorists while offering prayers at a mosque in Baramulla on Sunday, saying that "cowards responsible for this barbaric act will not be spared."
LG Sinha said that he is pained beyond words by the dastardly terrorist attack on retired police officer while he was giving a call for prayer in a mosque.
"Pained beyond words on the dastardly terrorist attack on retired police officer, Shri Mohammad Shafi Mir while he was giving a call for prayer in the mosque. Cowards responsible for this barbaric act will not be spared. My condolences to the bereaved family in this hour of grief," Office of LG Jammu and Kashmir posted on X.
Amid the ongoing search for terrorists in the forests of Rajouri after an ambush attack claimed the lives of four soldiers, unidentified terrorists on Sunday opened fire at the former police officer while he was offering prayers at a mosque at Gantmulla in the Baramulla district.
The slain former police officer was identified as Mohd Shafi, according to Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Terrorists opened fire on the retired police officer while he was offering prayers at a mosque, the police added.
Villagers and family members of Safi paid their last tribute to him by offering prayers.
Earlier in the day, the family members of the deceased retired police officer mourned his loss.
Speaking to ANI, Abdulkareem Mir, the younger brother of Shafi, said, "He was the senior superintendent of police (SSP) and retired from service in 2012. He was a regular at the mosque for 'Aazan'. However, this morning, Shafi (the muezzin, who calls fellow Muslims to prayer) stopped suddenly in between his call for Aazan. At first, we thought that the microphone had stopped working. However, later, we learned to our absolute shock and dismay that he had been fatally shot."
Meanwhile, the area was cordoned off in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
"Terrorists fired upon Shri Mohd Shafi, a retired police officer at Gantmulla, Sheeri #Baramulla, while praying Azan in the mosque and succumbed to injuries. The area has been cordoned off. Further details awaited," the Kashmir Zone Police posted from their official X handle. (ANI)