Srinagar: A BJP leader was shot dead by militants on Tuesday in broad daylight in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, second such incident in the last eight days in the Valley.
Javid Ahmad Dar, BJP’s constituency president of Homeshalibugh constituency was shot dead by militants from point black range outside his house in Brazloo area of the south Kashmir district around 4:30 pm Tuesday, a police official said. Dar, he said, died on the spot after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.
Soon after the militant attack, police and central forces reached the spot and launched a cordon and search operation to nab the assailants.
In a statement issued here, a police spokesperson said that the preliminary investigation has revealed that militants barged into the house of a civilian identified as Javid Ahmad Dar (Contractor by profession) resident of Brazloo and fired indiscriminately upon him.
In this incident, the police spokesperson said, Dar received critical gunshot injuries and died on spot.
“As claimed by BJP party spokesman, deceased person was BJP worker. As per district police no one had approached for security and even local BJP leader didn’t share his name in the list of PPs,” he said.
The police spokesperson said that a case has been registered in this regard under relevant sections of law and investigation is in progress and officers continue to work to establish the full circumstances of this “terror” crime.
“Area has been cordoned and search in the area is going on. Police will identify the culprits and appropriate action would be taken at the earliest,” he said.
Condemning the killing, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said he was “deeply anguished to hear about attack on political leader Javaid Ahmad Dar at Brazloo, Kulgam.”
“I strongly condemn this cowardly attack. My deepest condolences to bereaved family in this time of grief,” Sinha posted on his official Twitter handle.
“Terrorists will never succeed in their nefarious designs, and those responsible for such heinous acts shall be brought to justice,” he said in another Tweet.
Dar’s assassination comes over a week after unknown militant shot dead BJP Sarpanch Ghulam Rasool Dar and his Panch wife from Redwani Kulgam, in the neighbouring Anantnag district on August 9.
More recently, suspected militants lobbed a grenade at the house of BJP leader Jasbir Singh in Rajouri district killing a child and injuries six others.
Since the revocation of Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status by Modi-led government in August 2019, at least 20 BJP workers have been killed by militants across the Valley.
Meanwhile, J&K’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and several mainstream parties have condemned the killing of the BJP leader.
In a statement issued here, BJP spokesperson termed the killing of his party worker as a “barbaric” and “cowardly” act and urged police to to nab the killers and punish them sternly.
“Militants are feeling frustrated and targeting innocents. Killing unarmed people won’t lead to anything,” he said.
National Conference (NC) Vice President and former Chief Minister and Omar Abdullah also condemned the killing.
“Terrible news from Kulgam. Javed Ahmed was gunned down in cold blood. I unreservedly condemn this terror attack & send my heartfelt condolences to Javved’s family and colleagues,” Omar posted on his Twitter handle.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and former CM expressed sympathies with Dar’s family and said that there is no place for such acts of violence.
Peoples Conference (PC) President, Sajad Lone also condemned the killing and demanded the killers to be brought to justice soon
“Unreservedly condemn the killing of BJP leader in Kulgam. I hope the killers are brought to justice soon. Share my condolences with the family of the deceased,” he said.
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