Pandita’s killing is security lapse: Ashok Kaul
Srinagar: Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary (Organization), Ashok Kaul Wednesday termed the killing of party councillor Rakesh Pandita as “political killing” saying the incident has nothing to do with the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley.
Kaul also asked the government to fix responsibility on security agencies whose “negligence” claimed life of Pandita.
“Killing of our leader by gunmen in Tral is condemnable but linking the incident with the return of Kashmiri Pandits’ is not done. It’s a security lapse and the government should fix responsibly on security agencies,” Kaul told reporters at party office at Jawahar Nagar here.
He also questioned as to how militants were roaming freely and knew that the BJP leader was present in the area. “Ok we agree that our leader was without any security, but how militants could roam freely and knew he was present in the area; isn’t this security lapse?” he added.
Meanwhile, Police on Thursday said the protected persons in Kashmir should not move around without the personal security guards allotted to them.
“No #protectee should go anywhere without PSOs. Visits are allowed only after ground assessment of local #threat is done,” Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar said in a tweet.
The police advisory came after BJP councillor Rakesh Pandita was killed by militants in Tral area of Pulwama district on Wednesday.
Pandita, who was provided secure accommodation in Srinagar, had gone to visit a friend in Tral when a group of three militants shot at him.
The IGP requested the protected persons to follow the advisories in order to avoid unnecessary risks.
“Request is to all protectees not to #violate SOPs and risk their lives unnecessarily,” Kumar said.
