Constable Zaheer Abbas Khan of the Jammu and Kashmir Police made the supreme sacrifice on 29 October 2017 during a counter-terrorism operation in Mir Mohalla, Hajin, in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district. Serving with the Police Special Operations Group (SOG), he sustained critical bullet injuries during an exchange of fire with terrorists and later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.
A Police Constable from Poonch
A resident of Kaller in Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir, Zaheer Abbas Khan joined the Jammu and Kashmir Police on 24 December 2002. He was subsequently posted to the Police Component at Hajin, Bandipora, where he served in a region affected by terrorist activity and demanding security operations.
His service took him away from his native district to north Kashmir, where police personnel worked alongside other security forces to respond to intelligence inputs, conduct searches and confront armed threats.
The Hajin Operation
On the morning of 29 October 2017, security forces launched a joint operation in Mir Mohalla, Hajin, following intelligence inputs about the presence of Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists in the area. The operation involved the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s SOG, the Army’s 13 Rashtriya Rifles and the Central Reserve Police Force.
As security personnel moved towards the suspected location, terrorists opened fire, triggering an encounter. Constable Zaheer Abbas Khan sustained serious bullet injuries during the exchange. He was evacuated for medical treatment but could not survive.
The terrorists managed to escape from the cordon. The operation took place in a densely populated area, where clashes and stone-pelting further complicated the security forces’ efforts.
A Family Left Behind
Zaheer Abbas Khan’s martyrdom left his family bereaved. Contemporary reports stated that he was survived by his parents, wife and three young children. His death was a personal tragedy for his family and a loss to the police force in which he had served for nearly 15 years.
Senior civil and police officials paid homage to the fallen constable at a wreath-laying ceremony in Srinagar. The tribute recognised his service and the sacrifice he made while carrying out his duties in Bandipora.
Remembering His Sacrifice
Constable Zaheer Abbas Khan made the supreme sacrifice while confronting terrorists during an operation in Hajin. His service reflects the risks undertaken by Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel who work alongside other security forces in challenging operational environments.
The Honour Post pays tribute to Constable Zaheer Abbas Khan, remembering his service, his courage in the line of duty and the supreme sacrifice he made on 29 October 2017.
