As per sources, Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Kulgam Kisan Morcha President and his wife were shot dead by suspected terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district on Monday, 9 August, IANS reported.
According to sources, the terrorists barged inside the house of sarpanch Ghulam Rasool Dar, and fired indiscriminately, critically injuring him and Jawhara Banoo, his wife.
They were taken to the Government Medical College (GMC) in Anantnag where they were declared "brought dead".
Dar hails from Redwani in the neighbouring district of Kulgam. He was the Kulgam district president of BJP’s Kisan Morcha.
Since the shooting, the area where the incident took place has been sealed and a search operation is underway, IANS reported.
What Police Said
As per a report by The Indian Express, the Personal Security Officer (PSO), who was responsible for guarding the couple and was absent from the site during the attack, was placed under suspension “with immediate effect".
A statement by the police said, "The deceased was provided a secured accommodation at Snow Cap Hotel Kulgam and both stayed there for a short period of time. They had been insisting on staying at their house in Anantnag and also submitted an undertaking in this regard. On their request, they were allowed to stay at (the) house in Anantnag," the Indian Express quoted.
BJP J&K spokesperson Altaf Thakur strongly condemned the killings and called them "barbaric and cowardly."
"The attacking and killing of innocent people will lead nowhere. Such acts reflect the frustration of militants," Thakur added.
Manoj Sinha, Mufti Express Condolences
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha also strongly condemned the fatal attack.
"I strongly condemn brutal terrorist attack on the Sarpanch GH Rasool Dar and his wife Jawhara Banoo of Redwani Bala, Kulgam. This is an act of cowardice and perpetrators of violence will be brought to justice very soon. My deepest condolences to bereaved family in this time of grief. (sic)"Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor
Reacting to the news, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti expressed her condolences and wrote:
Meanwhile, NC leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the killings and stated, "They (the deceased) join a long list of mainstream politicians killed for their political beliefs”.
(With inputs from IANS, Indian Express)
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