Unknown gunmen shot dead a govt employee in Rajouri district

The attackers were in search of TA soldier, brother of the deceased: Sources

Shyam Sood

Rajouri, April 22: After 15 months of Dhangri terror attack-in which seven people, including two minors were killed- terrorists once again struck in Rajouri district and killed an employee of Social Welfare Department in Kunda village in Thanamandi tehsil.
The deceased has been identified as Mohd Razaq s/o late Mohd Akbar who was also slaughtered by the terrorists about 12 years ago.
After the death of his father, Mohd Razaq got a government job under SRO-43 rule.
According to a villager (name withheld), as the official Muazzin (the one who call for prayer) was not available, Mohd Razaq had gone to give a call for prayers in the nearby Mosque.
After prayers, at about 8.30 pm, when Mohd Razaq returned home unknown gunmen-who were already present in the house- opened 2-3 fire on Mohd Razaq outside the house killing him on the spot.
Relatives and family rushed outside after hearing gunshot and found Razaq in a pool of blood.
Reliable sources said that the unidentified persons, reportedly terrorists, were in search of the younger brother of Mohd Razaq, namely Tahir Hussain, a soldier in the Territorial Army.
A cousin of deceased Mohd Razaq, who first reached the spot after firing incident, in a viral video on social media platforms said: “They (militants) were in search of my TA Mamu (maternal uncle), but they killed my other Mamu”.
Sources added, Tahir after noticing the presence of unidentified persons in the house had escaped in a forest and unknown unidentified gunmen fired upon Mohd Razaq.
“Tahir Hussain has been traced and shifted to a safer place” said A Q Mir, DDC member of the area.
The news of the terror attack spread like a wildfire in the entire area and people hid themselves inside their homes.
Even the forces along with SDPO, SHO and Tehsildar (all from Thanamandi) reached the village after about two hours of the terror incident.
Additional forces have been rushed to the village and adjoining areas and a cordon & search operation has been launched to nab the attackers.
The deceased is survived by a wife and five minor children including three daughters.
The terror has gripped the entire area. Only yesterday a minor explosion or a grenade blast was triggered by the ANE in the vicinity of a security force post for the protection of the famous Shahdara Sharief Shrine situated in this area.
At about 10.10 pm District Police Office in an official message said: “A man, identified as Mohd Raziq son of Mohd Akbar resident of Kunda Tope, Shahdra Sharief has been critically injured in a firing incident at his native village. Forces have cordoned off the area and investigation has been initiated to nab the attackers”.