Kashmir: Slain BSF constable Ramzan Parray tried to fight off LeT militants with an axe

Border Security Force (BSF) constable Ramzan Ahmad Parray reportedly tried to repel militant attackers with an axe before they shot him dead at his residence in Bandipora district on Wednesday evening.

Identifying Lashkar-e-Taiba member Mehboob Bhai as the mastermind behind the attack on Parray’s family, director general of police SP Vaid said the militants stabbed the constable and his relatives before shooting him down. “There was a scuffle as the attackers tried to drag Parray out of the house. Only he was shot; the others suffered stab injuries,” he added.

Local residents said Parray resisted the attack to the best of his abilities, and even fought back with an axe before the militants opened fire. While the BSF constable lost his life, his father, brothers and aunt were admitted to a nearby hospital.

North Kashmir deputy inspector general (DIG) Nitish Kumar told mediapersons earlier in the day that the attackers were three to four in number. “Parray’s family members identified one of them as Lashkar militant Mehmood Bhai,” he said.

The BSF constable’s father is said to be in a critical state.

A neighbour said on the condition of anonymity that Parray was talking on his phone outside his aunt’s house when the militants chanced upon him. “The militants stopped Ramzan, and asked to see his identity card. When he refused, they snatched his phone. Upon hearing the noise, his aunt came out and asked them to leave him alone,” he added.

The militants went away, only to return about 15 minutes later. “Four masked men entered the house, saying that they just wanted to see Ramzan’s identity card,” said Sameer Ahmad, Parray’s cousin. “We intervened only when it seemed as if they were going to take him away. Stabbings and shootings followed.”

Ahmad said Parray had come home for Eid earlier this month. A member of the BSF for the last six years, he was currently posted at Singpora in neighbouring Baramulla district.

Unlike the grand funeral accorded to Army officer Lt Umar Fayaz, who was killed at Shopian in May, Parray’s last rites were a low-key affair. The wreathe-laying ceremony was held at Hajin police station, after which the deceased BSF constable was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard in Parray Mohalla around 2 pm in a ceremony that was attended neither by armed forces personnel nor government officials.

The incident was condemned by many, including former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah. “What a terrible incident. This is abominable. Heartfelt condolences to the family of Ramzan Parray. Hope the injured recover soon,” he tweeted.

Netizens, however, were not as vocal in condemning Parray’s killing as they were in Fayaz’s case.

DIG Nitish Kumar said around 80 militants are active in North Kashmir, most of whom hail from Pakistan. “Very few local residents are active militants at least in this region,” he added.