People take part in a candlelight procession in memory of Lt Ummer Fayaz at the India Gate in New Delhi on Saturday. Tribune Photo: Mukesh Aggarwal

Suhail A Shah

Kulgam, May 13

General Officer Commanding (GOC), Victor Force, Major Gen BS Raju, said today that the life of Lt Ummer Fayaz, killed by militants while on holiday, would not go waste and the militants involved in the cowardly act would be brought to justice.General Raju today visited the slain Army officer’s family at Sursuna village in Kulgam district.Lt Fayaz was abducted by militants from Batpora village of Shopian district on the evening of May 9, where he was attending the marriage ceremony of a cousin.Lt Fayaz was found dead the next morning in an orchard, his body riddled by multiple bullets. The killing was widely condemned.General Raju assured the mourning parents of Lt Fayaz (and later while talking to mediapersons) that his killing would be avenged soon.“Action will be taken against militants involved in this cowardly act. The action will be taken in our way and very soon,” General Raju assured.He said the Army would take utmost care that no civilians were hurt or put to inconvenience during Army operations, targeting these militants.General Raju praised Lt Fayaz’s parents for deciding to send him to the National Defence Academy (NDA).“His fight began five years back when he decided to join the NDA and serve in the Army. He chose the unconventional and I must say he has been successful in his battle,” General Raju said.He added that despite serving the Army for only four months Lt Fayaz was already a hero to him.“He is already a hero and he has won his battle,” the GOC told the reporters.The GOC presented a cheque for Rs 75 lakh from the Army Group Insurance Fund to the bereaved family and another for Rs 1 lakh from the martyr’s regiment Rajputana Rifles.The GOC said the situation in south Kashmir was calm in general, but there was little bit of agitation in a few educational institutes.“The life is going on normally. 95 per cent of the schools are functioning normally… There are 40-50 students in four to five colleges who create ruckus. Some virus has entered them which we have to remove. I am sure that the summer will be peaceful,” General Raju said.

Army school to be renamed after martyrThe Army has decided to name one of its “Goodwill” schools after Lt Ummer Fayaz. General Officer Commanding (GOC) the Victor Force, Major Gen BS Raju on Saturday announced the decision at Lt Fayaz’s home at Sursuna village of Kulgam district. “The Army-run Goodwill School in the Behibagh area of Kulgam district will be renamed after our martyred officer,” the GOC told the family. The school will be called “Shaheed Lt Ummer Fayaz Goodwill School” from now on. oc