Militants on Saturday shot dead a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Identified as Gul Muhammad Mir, he was the BJP’s district vice president.
Mir who had contested assembly elections on a BJP ticket from Anantnag was killed inside his house.
BJP leaders said that Mir’s security was recently withdrawn by the government.
According to the reports, unknown militants fired upon Mir at Nowgam Verinag. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition where he succumbed.
The security forces have cordoned off the area to catch the suspects.
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah took to his twitter account and tweeted, “Ghulam Mohd Mir, office bearer of the BJP in South Kashmir has been shot & killed in Nowgam, Verinag. I condemn this dastardly act of violence & pray for the soul of the departed, Allah Jannat naseeb karey.”
“Gul Mohd Mir was the District Vice President of the BJP state unit. May his family & loved ones find strength at this difficult time,” Abdullah added.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the killing.
“I strongly condemn the killing of @BJP4India leader Gul Muhammad Mir in Verinag, South Kashmir. My condolences to the bereaved family and prayers for the departed soul,” Mehbooba tweeted.
