Srinagar: Militants Thursday shot dead a Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party leader in Kulgam, officials said here.
Ghulam Hassan Lone was shot at by the militants in his native Devsar area, they said, adding he was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Sharing details of the incident, police spokesman in a statement said “preliminary investigation revealed that terrorists fired upon one person identified as Ghulam Hassan Lone, son of Mohammad Kamal Lone, resident of Devsar town near his house, in which he received critical gunshot injuries.”
He was immediately shifted to nearby hospital for treatment where he was declared as brought dead.
“Neither the police records nor the activities of deceased indicated him to be a political worker,” police statement said, adding that “as on date no political party had indicated or intimated about his political affiliation. However, after the incident Apni Party has claimed that the deceased was their political worker.”
Police has registered a case in this regard under relevant sections of law. “Investigation is in progress and officers continue to work to establish the full circumstances of this terror crime. Area has been cordoned off and search in the area is going on,” the police statement said.
Pertinently, this killing comes just two days after militants shot dead BJP leader Javeed Ahmad Dar in the same district.
Before that, militants had on August 09 barged into the house of a BJP sarpanch in Anantnag district and killed him and his wife.
Condemning the killing, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice very soon.
“Anguished to hear about the terror attack on political leader Shri Ghulam Hassan Lone at Devsar, Kulgam. I strongly condemn this cowardly attack,” the LG tweeted.
“Perpetrators of this heinous act will be brought to justice very soon. My prayers & thoughts with bereaved family in this time of grief,” he added.
Lone’s killing also evoked widespread condemnation from mainstream political parties including the Peoples Democratic Party, the National Conference and the People’s Conference.
“Unfortunately there seems to be no end to the spree of political killings in Kashmir. Unreservedly condemn the killing of Apni party leader Ghulam Hassan Lone. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family,” PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti tweeted.
National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah said the “renewed trend” of militants targeting mainstream leaders is “very worrying”.
“Very sorry to hear about the assassination of Ghulam Hassan Lone in Devsar area of South Kashmir. This renewed trend of targeting mainstream politicians by militant outfits is very worrying & I condemn the same in the strongest possible terms. May Allah grant the departed Jannat,” Abdullah tweeted.
People’s Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone said, “Strongly condemn the killing of @Apnipartyonline leader Ghulam Hassan Lone in Kulgam. Recent spate of attacks on mainstream leaders is worrying.
“Violence only brings miseries to people. Such killings only create more widows and orphans. These heinous acts must cease,” he added.
