J&K: Suspected terrorists shoot dead man who had enrolled with the army

Suspected terrorists have shot dead a 25-year-old man in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama.The man was identified as Ashiq Ahmad.

Ashiq was shot and critically wounded in Pulwama's Pingleena village. He was rushed to hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Initial reports had suggested Ashiq used to work as a gardener with the Indian Army but that he resigned his job a few months ago.

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The army however said Ashiq had enrolled with them on January 15, 2018 but that he deserted eight months later.

The army said Ashiq had been sent to the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry regimental centre on March 21, 2018. He then went on three days of leave on September 14 and never returned.

Since he never took his oath as a solider, the army said, Ashiq is technically a civilian.

A joint team of the army and Jammu and Kashmir Police's Special Operations Group meanwhile has launched a cordon-and-search operation in the area to nab Ashiq's killers.