SRINAGAR: A retired military personnel, his spouse, and their teenage daughter suffered severe injuries when terrorists opened fire at close range in Behibagh, located in the southern region of Kashmirโs Kulgam district on Monday.
An official informed The New Indian that the victim, identified as Manzoor Ahmad Wagay, a former member of the Territorial Army, was targeted along with his wife, Aaina Akhtar (32), and their 13-year-old daughter, Saina Hameed. The trio was immediately transported to a nearby medical facility for emergency treatment.
The official further stated, โManzoor sustained a critical abdominal wound and succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. However, his wife and daughter, who were shot in the legs, are in stable condition and are receiving medical care.โ
ALSO READ: Centre earmarks 41000 cr for J&K in 2025-26 Budget
Following the attack, security personnel sealed off the area and initiated a search operation to apprehend the terrorists.
This attack underscores the persistent terrorist threats in the region. Just two days earlier, two heavily armed infiltrators were neutralized by vigilant troops while attempting to breach the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmirโs Poonch district.
Although Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a significant 70% drop in terror-related incidents over the past five years, targeted killings remain a pressing concern.
ALSO READ: Multiple locations raided in anti-terror crackdown in Rajouri
A senior security official told The New Indian that terrorists, backed by Pakistan, continue to strike vulnerable civilians in a bid to disrupt the regionโs stability and draw attention.
โThe number of terrorist incidents has seen a sharp decline from 286 in 2019 to just 40 as of early November 2024,โ he noted.
According to official records, 111 terror-related cases were documented in 2020, followed by 95 in 2021, 65 in 2022, 15 in 2023, and only 5 in 2024.
Meanwhile, data from the Union Home Ministry indicates a downward trend in security personnel fatalities, with figures dropping from 77 in 2019 to 7 in 2024.
