Violation of several standard operating procedures (SOPs) allegedly led to the killing of Indian Army jawan Aurangzeb in Jammu and Kashmir.
The rifleman, who was ‘buddy’ of a company commander, was abducted by militants at Kalampora in Pulwama last month when he was on his way home in Rajouri district for Eid celebrations. He was later shot dead by the militants.
Coming in contact with a woman and travelling in a private car was the main reason that led to Aurangzeb’s death. “He hailed a private car because he was to meet the girl,’’ an officer told media.
The officer told the daily that the jawan had come in contact with a woman and the two were in touch, which was found by the terrorists.
“They forced the girl to reveal details and discovered that he would be leaving the army camp and would be seeing her before proceeding to Poonch,’’ an army official said on the condition of anonymity.
Following the incident, the army has issued an advisory reiterating SOPs. An army spokesperson confirmed that a message has been sent to all units in the Valley, through 15 Corps, to not befriend local women.
Aurangzeb was also on the wrong side of other SOPs. Army jawans are not allowed to travel in private cars and must always leave in a bullet-proof vehicle (called Caspers in J&K), till they cross the Valley.
Aurangzeb belonged to 4 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and was posted at the 44 Rashtriya Rifles camp at Shadimarg in Shopian. His bullet-riddled body was found at Gussu village, about 10 km from Kalampora, in Pulwama district.
Terrorists were also seen grilling Aurangzeb moments before murder. A chilling video of 24-year-old Riffleman had sent shock waves in the Kashmir Valley.
Earlier, Aurangzeb’s family had made an emotional appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Army and the Jammu and Kashmir government to eliminate militancy from the state and avenge his death.
My son has laid down his life for the country. He was a brave soldier. I and my sons will also sacrifice (ourselves) for the nation. We want goons to be wiped out, Mohammad Hanief, Aurangzeb’s father and a former sepoy of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, had said.
Prasanta Patnaik 
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