The officer, a Kashmiri, was on leave and had gone for his cousin's wedding at his village in Kulgam in south Kashmir when he was kidnapped around 10 pm. Three terrorists with guns went up to the first floor of his relative's home and dragged him out, according to a cousin, the bride's brother. The family, too terrified to report the kidnapping, had hoped that he would be sent back alive. Hundreds turned up at the village this morning as the festivities turned tragic; the killing of one of their own has left them shocked and angry.
Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz had joined the army five months ago and was posted with the Rajputana Rifles.
Ummer Fayaz was fresh out of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and knew the risks, but "didn't think twice about going to his village unarmed", they said.
He was in the NDA hockey team and said to be an excellent volleyball player. According to the army, he was tipped to go for a Young Officers' course in September.
"After he successfully completed his training, he was very well integrated with his troops. He was very very focused. The troops loved him. He used to beat everyone in games. I remember whenever I gave him a task - he used to take it as a challenge. For me it's like losing a member of my family," said Colonel RR Patil, his commanding officer in Akhnoor.
"I told myself I had to keep an eye on him. I found he overshadowed the others because of his enthusiasm. I thought to myself that he will do well in the Army. He would do well for the regiment and for himself. He wanted to prove something. There was a spark in his eyes. That's what I liked about him," he said.
Sources say the brutal killing marks a worrying trend of terrorists targeting army officers even when they are off duty.
In south Kashmir, local support is evident for terrorists who have been openly roaming the countryside. The police say public support for terrorists is a massive problem for security forces who have frequently encountered resistance from crowds while fighting terrorists.
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