Srinagar (NVI): In his career spanning over two decades, Sageer Pathan Qazi had earned three out of turn promotions as he rose from a Constable to a Sub-inspector, due to his passion for challenges and unflinching determination to take on terrorists in the Valley.
Born in 1978 in Trad Karnah of Kupwara district, Qazi joined as a Constable in Armed Wing of Jammu and Kashmir Police in 1999, at the age of 21.
He volunteered for working in Police SOG (Special Operations Group), an elite Counter-Terrorist Force in 2006, and continued with his outstanding performance till yesterday, when he lost his life in an anti-terrorist operation at Chanjmulla in Handwara, while trying to save the lives of civilians taken hostage by two terrorists.
He was part of a joint team led by Commanding Officer of 21 RR, Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, including Major Anuj Sood and two soldiers of the same unit, all of whom lost their lives in the fierce overnight gunbattle.
A true Pathan, Qazi was honoured with various medals which include Sher-e-Kashmir Police Medal for Gallantry in 2009, Police Medal for Gallantry by President of India in 2011, DGP J&K Commendation Medal and GOC-in-C, Northern Command Commendation Disc.
Yesterday, when inputs were received about the presence of terrorists in village Chanjmulla in Handwara, he led the SOG team under the command of District SP Handwara along with CO 21 RR and launched the operation. He was part of the original team which went in to evacuate the civilian inmates in a house who were taken hostage by the hiding terrorists, J&K police said in a statement today.
Sub Inspector Sageer Ahmad Pathan @ Qazi who was born in 1978 in Trad Karnah of Kupwara District was appointed as Constable in 1999 in Armed Wing of Jammu and Kashmir Police.
He volunteered for working in Police SOG ,an elite Counter-Terrorist Force in 2006. pic.twitter.com/lDGPblCVvB— J&K Police (@JmuKmrPolice) May 3, 2020
The team could safely rescue the inmates but came under heavy fire from the terrorists, during the evacuation process and suffered casualties.
The entire Jammu and Kashmir Police today paid tribute to the braveheart and other members of the operation led by Colonel Ashutosh in the Handwara operation. Qazi is survived by three daughters, a son and aged parents.
