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The family of the police officer killed in the Srinagar attack a day ago had still not come to terms with the loss of their son that hit them with another tragedy.
Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Mushtaq Ahmad Lone of Shouch, Kulgam was killed by militants in the Lal Bazar area of Srinagar on Tuesday night. In April 2020, Aaqib Mushtaq, an engineering graduate, was killed in an encounter in the Guddar area of Kulgam and police claimed that Aaqib was a militant associate, a claim the family strongly refuted.
Weeping women, overwhelmed by grief, were seen beating themselves and hugging the coffin. Some even fainted. Amid loud screaming and chaos, police had difficulty removing mourners and completing the ceremony.
The extreme anguish was rooted in the tragedies the family had to go through and the circumstances of the murder of two family members, father and son.
Lone's relatives and neighbours described him as a pious soul known for helping the downtrodden. The slain man offered congregational Eid prayers at home and returned to duty for him on Tuesday, his relative said.
His relatives and relatives demanded that Aaqib's body be buried in North Kashmir be allowed to be buried alongside his father.
In April 2020, Aaqib was killed during a security operation just a few kilometres from his home.
Police said Aquib was a 'terrorist associate' and his body was found at the scene of the shooting, although three Hizbul Mujahideen members said to be with him escaped. He was buried at Baramulla, in North Kashmir.
The Lone family has dismissed reports and police claims that Aquib was a terrorist. ASI Lone and his family had demanded that Aquib's body be released to them, but his request has been repeatedly denied.
Following the police officer's death on Tuesday, the family renewed their lawsuit.
“They are desperate to show their presence. That is why they shot the video and released it. The motive is to demoralise the police but the terrorists would be taken care of soon," remarked the former top cop, News 18 reported.
A police spokesman said DIG Abdul Jabbar and Kulgam SSP GV Sundeep Chakravarthy were among the top officers who visited ASI Lone's home and met the grieving family.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people participated in his last rites and took part in funeral prayers as hundreds of people visited his residence on Wednesday to offer their condolences.
The police spokesman said that DIG SKR Anantnag Abdul Jabbar- SSP Kulgam GV Sundeep Chakravarthy together with DySP HQR and SHO Kulgam visited the family of ASI Mushtaq Ahmad.
"The officers expressed their sympathy and prayed for the eternal peace of the deceased's soul and assured family members that the J&K Police Department will provide all possible help and support to the family," he said.
Meanwhile, the Resistance Front, believed by police to be the front for the Lashkar-e-Toiba group, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
In a statement circulated on social media, it said: “Falcon Squad cadre #TRF carried out a surprise attack on puppet forces in Lal Bazar area of Srinagar city in which a JKP official puppet died on the spot and 03 other puppets were killed. seriously injured."
The statement said surprise attacks will be carried out throughout the valley, particularly against JKP collaborators, traitors and stooges.
"Our next surprise attack will be more surprising," the TRF warned.
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