Militants on Monday shot dead a BJP leader and his wife at Lal Chowk area of Anantnag. A police official said that the militants barged into the rented accommodation of BJP leader Ghulam Rasool Dar, the sarpanch at Lal Chowk in Anantnag and fired indiscriminately, killing him and his wife.
“One militant fired at the couple and another had kept vigil. They escaped from the scene after the firing," the police official said, adding the couple had moved to the rented accommodation recently as earlier, they were put in a hotel under full security. Dar (68) hailed from Redwani area of Kulgam and had moved out from the neighbourhood after joining the BJP.
The police ofifical quoted above said Dar and his wife, Jawahira, had received critical injuries and were shifted to GMC, Anantnag. However, both were declared brought dead, he said. Before joining politics, Dar was a government employee.
Meanwhile, The Resistance Front (TRF) has owned responsibility for the attack. In a statement, the TRF said the cadre of Gazelle squad (TRF) carried out their operation. “They were among those traitors who celebrated 5th August recently and were staying put to attend 15th August occupiers function," the statement read, adding “whosoever is involved in anti-resistance activity and sells the sacrifices of resistance lovers won’t be spared".
As many as nine BJP leaders and functionaries have been killed in militant attacks in the last few years.
Meanwhile, politicians across party lines condemned the killing, with L-G Manoj Sinha saying it’s “an act of cowardice & perpetrators of violence will be brought to justice very soon".
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 & perpetrators of violence will be brought to justice very soon. My deepest condolences to bereaved family in this time of grief.— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) August 9, 2021
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti extended condolences to Dar’s family.
I unequivocally condemn the assassination of Ghulam Rasool Dar & his wife. They join a long list of mainstream politicians killed for their political beliefs. My condolences to his family & colleagues. May Allah grant the departed place in Jannat. https://t.co/vvN3rwpb0R— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) August 9, 2021
Extremely sorry to hear that BJP District President & his wife have been shot dead by militants today. My condolences to their families & loved ones.— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) August 9, 2021
“Extremely sorry to hear that BJP District President & his wife have been shot dead by militants today. My condolences to their families & loved ones," wrote Mufti.
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