'Painful' that Lt. Ummer Fayaz was killed when he came home: Mehbooba Mufti

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday condemned the abduction and murder of Army officer Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz by terrorists in Shopian district.

"What was more painful to note is that the young officer had come home on vacation where he was attending the marriage of his cousin," the Chief Minister said in a statement.

Mufti conveyed her heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family of Lt. Umar and prayed for his eternal solace.

Earlier, Union Defence Minister Arun Jaitley condemned the killing of the Army officer and dubbed it a 'dastardly act of cowardice.'

Taking to Twitter Jaitley said, "Abduction & murder of Lt. Ummer Fayaz by terrorists in Shopian is a dastardly act of cowardice. This young officer from J&K was a role mode."

Asserting that the deceased officer was an exceptional sportsman, Jaitley said his sacrifice reiterates nation's commitment to eliminate terrorism from the Valley.

Expressing grief over the incident, he further condoled the death of the officer.

The young Indian Army officer who was abducted and then brutally killed by terrorists, was cremated with full honours in Sursun in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir.

Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz from RAJRIF unit in Akhnoor had gone to attend the wedding of his uncle's daughter at Batapura (Near Behibagh) on Tuesday, from where he was reportedly abducted by terrorists and today morning his bullet ridden body was found at Harmen, said the Army in a statement.

His mortal remains underwent postmortem at the District Hospital in Shopian and was subsequently brought to Sursun for burial with full military honors.

Lt. Fayaz was commissioned on 10th December 2016 from the National Defence Academy and was set to head for the Young Officers Course in September this year.

"He was part of the Hockey Team of NDA, excellent volleyball player. He was physically tough and the troops enjoyed being with him," the Army said.

The police said that the officer was shot by terrorists five times in an orchard.

His body was found lying by a local at Harman orchard and subsequently after being informed, the police rushed to the spot.

-ANI