Sub-Inspector Arshid Ashraf Mir of the Jammu and Kashmir Police made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty on 12 September 2021 after being targeted by terrorists in the Khanyar area of Srinagar. A resident of Kalmoona in the Vilgam area of Handwara, Kupwara, he was a young police officer who had joined the force with a commitment to serve the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Arshid was serving as a probationary Sub-Inspector at Police Station Khanyar in Srinagar. Reports from the time described him as a postgraduate in Botany and an outstanding student during his academic years. He had joined the police force around two years before his martyrdom and was serving in one of Srinagar's sensitive areas. His family later continued to be associated with his memory and legacy in his native Kupwara.
The Khanyar Attack and His Supreme Sacrifice
On the afternoon of 12 September 2021, Arshid had been returning after taking an accused to a hospital for a medical check-up. At about 1:35 pm, terrorists opened fire in the Khanyar area. Arshid sustained multiple gunshot wounds in the attack and was immediately taken for medical treatment. He was first shifted to hospital and later taken to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences at Soura, where he succumbed to his injuries. Contemporary reports said the attack was captured on CCTV and showed the officer being targeted at close range.
The martyrdom of the young police officer drew tributes from the Jammu and Kashmir Police leadership and the civil administration. A wreath-laying ceremony was held at the District Police Lines in Srinagar, where senior officers and representatives of the administration paid their respects. His mortal remains were subsequently taken to his native Kalmoona in Kupwara, where a large gathering attended his final rites.
Arshid's sacrifice has continued to be remembered in his native area. In 2024, the Deputy Commissioner of Kupwara visited his family at Kalmoona along with senior police officers and expressed solidarity with his parents. A government school in Kalmoona was also named after PSI Arshid Ashraf Mir in recognition of his service and sacrifice.
His service was brief, but the responsibility he carried was significant. As a Jammu and Kashmir Police officer serving on the ground, Arshid stood in the line of duty in a region where police personnel have repeatedly faced the threat of terrorism. His final duty became a lasting part of the history of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and of the many officers who have made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the people.
We honour his martyrdom.
We preserve his story. 🇮🇳
Lest We Forget. 🇮🇳
