BJP sarpanch, wife killed by militants in J&K

SUSPECTED MILITANTS shot dead a BJP leader and his wife after barging into their rented house Monday in South Kashmir’s Anantnag, J&K Police said.

Police identified the victims as Ghulam Rasool Dar, a sarpanch who hails from Redwani in the neighbouring district of Kulgam, and his wife Jawahira Begum, who is a panch or ward member. Dar was the Kulgam district president of BJP’s Kisan Morcha.

Police said the Personal Security Officer (PSO) tasked with guarding the couple was absent when the militants struck, and has been placed under suspension “with immediate effect”. Redwani is considered as a militant stronghold.

Dar and his wife were critically wounded in the attack at Lalchowk Anantnag and were rushed to Government Medical College (GMC) in Anantnag, where doctors declared them “brought dead”.

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

“Preliminary investigation revealed that terrorists barged inside the accommodation of Ghulam Rasool Dar and fired indiscriminately from (a) pistol. In this terror crime incident, BJP sarpanch and his wife Jawahira Begum received critical gunshot injuries. (They) were immediately shifted to hospital, where both of them were declared dead,” police said in a statement.

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

Police said that until recently, Dar and his wife were staying in accomodation provided by the administration. “The deceased was provided a secured accomodation at Snow Cap Hotel Kulgam and both stayed there for a short period of time. They had been insisting on staying at their house at Anantnag town and also submitted an undertaking in this regard. On their request, they were allowed to stay at (the) house in Anantnag,” police said.

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

J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and leaders of mainstream political parties condemned the killing. “This is an act of cowardice and perpetrators of violence will be brought to justice very soon,” Sinha tweeted.

NC leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the slain couple “join a long list of mainstream politicians killed for their political beliefs”.

PDP chief and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said: “Extremely sorry to hear that the BJP District President and his wife have been shot dead by militants today. My condolences to their families and loved ones.”