SRINAGAR, Mar 27: Brother of the Special Police Officer (SPO) who was critically injured in a militant attack in Central Kashmir district of Budgam succumbed to injuries here this morning taking the death toll in the last evening militant attack to two while train services in Kashmir were suspended today as large number of people assembled at their residence which is adjacent to Railway track.Umar Ahmad Dar, 23, a student, who was critically injured at his residence in Chattabugh Budgam, in a militant attack on his brother succumbed to his injuries this morning. His brother, Ishfiq Ahmad Dar, 26, posted as SPO in Budgam, was fired upon and critically wounded last evening and later succumbed.Umar, as per sources, who was also injured caught hold of one of the militants who fired at his brother and later he was also fired at leaving him critically wounded.Thousands of people attended funeral of the SPO and his brother at Chattabugh this afternoon. The funeral took place adjacent to the Railway track where their house is located.The train services in Kashmir were suspended as a precautionary measure today as the residence of the killed duo falls in close vicinity of the railway track and the decision has been taken keeping in view of the safety of the people.“Train service has not been suspended because of law and order. It has been kept at halt at Mazhama and Budgam because the house of the deceased is near the track and (some) people who have to participate in the funeral sit on the track,” the SSP Railway said in a statement, adding, “In order to avoid any unnecessary harm to people the train is halted only. Once track is cleared train services will move (resume).”Inspector General of Police Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, today visited the residence of the SPO at Chattabugh in Budgam and expressed sympathies with the family.To pay honor and respect to the SPO, a wreath laying ceremony was held at District Police Lines, Budgam today.The civil and police officers led by DC Budgam Shahbaaz Mirza and SSP Budgam Tahir Saleem laid floral wreaths on the mortal remains and paid rich tributes to the deceased.This is the second militant attack in the area. On March 21, a man who was allegedly working for the security forces was shot dead by militants in the adjacent village of Gotpora.Identified as Tajamul Mohi-ud-Din Rather, he was allegedly working for the security forces and was shot dead by militants outside his home in Gotpora village of Budgam district.
