Srinagar
A 25-year-old man who was shot dead by suspected militants at Pingleena village in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Wednesday afternoon was “technically” a civilian as he had been declared a deserter during his training, the Army said, dismissing media reports that the slain was a former soldier.
Showkat Naik of Jakli, son of Mohd Yousuf Naik was shot at by masked gunmen outside his home at Naik Mohalla in Pingleena village this afternoon.
Showkat was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him brought dead on arrival. Soon after the incident a joint team of army and SOG launched a cordon-and-search operation in the area to nab the assailants.
An army spokesman said Naik had not taken oath as a soldier even as he was enrolled on 15 Jan 2018 in Territorial Army. “He went to JAKLI Regimental Center on 21 Mar 2018. The individual went on three days leave on 14 Sep 18 and he never returned, “the spokesman said, adding Naik was “declared deserter on 17 September 2018.” “Technically, after being declared deserter during training, he is a civilian,” the spokesman said.
