Several Jammu & Kashmir leaders on Sunday condoled the death of Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) leader and former sarpanch Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh, who was shot dead in Shopian on Saturday evening by unidentified assailants. The BJP referred to Sheikh as a "brave soldier" of the party, and pledged support to his kin.
"We strongly condemn the killing of ex-sarpanch Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh in Heerpora, Shopian, by terrorists today (Saturday)," Sajid Yousuf Shah, in charge of the BJP's media cell in Jammu and Kashmir, posted from his X handle on Saturday. "He was a brave soldier of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Jammu & Kashmir. The BJP firmly stands with the family of Aijaz Ahmad, who lost his life in this terror attack," he added.
Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) chief and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah said terrorism was still a reality in Kashmir, also referring to another attack that took place Saturday on a tourist camp in Pahalgam.
"Terrorism still exists here. No matter which party member he (Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh) belonged to, if someone is targeted, that needs to be investigated. Whether he was killed by terrorists or people here, before pointing fingers at somebody, it needs to be investigated fast," Farooq Abdullah told ANI in an interview.
He said such attacks will adversely impact the tourism industry in Jammu and Kashmir. "Tourists were also attacked in Pahalgam. This is a tragedy, it is affecting our tourism industry," he added.
Farooq Abdullah demanded that international pressure must be created, saying there is a need for a probe involving international investigating agencies into recent killings.
Jammu & Kashmir JD(U) president G.M. Shaheen told ANI, "This was unfortunate... the Pakistani people are... very bad neighbours and that is their routine work. It is not the first time in the last many years they are trying to disturb the peace in Jammu and Kashmir…”
“You can't compare the situation to 1996 or 98 or 93. We had peace again back in Jammu and Kashmir for the last four to five years after the abrogation of Article 370. And if you can see the situation [with regard to] these sorts of incidents, many more incidents happen in Uttar Pradesh or other places. So these things happen sometimes. But our police and Army are very strong and they will answer these elements”, he added.
BJP leader Sajad Ahmad Dar said "these attacks show the frustration of terrorists because it is for the first time that elections are being conducted here (Kashmir Valley) peacefully and voters are participating enthusiastically".
The two attacks came two days before J&K votes for its final phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 20, when the constituency of Baramulla goes to the polls.
JKNC vice-president Omar Abdullah, a former CM, said he was “very sorry to hear about the twin militant attacks in South Kashmir against tourists & a political worker of the BJP". "I unequivocally condemn these deadly attacks. My condolences to the family of Aijaz Ahmed. May Allah grant him place in Jannt. I also pray that Tabrez & Farah, from Jaipur in Rajasthan, make a complete recovery,” he added in a post on X.
According to police, unidentified gunmen shot several rounds at Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh at Heerpora in the Shopian district late on Saturday evening. He was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries on arrival.
Irfan Ahmad Sheikh, a relative of Sheikh, said, "Around 10 pm, we heard the sound of shooting but we had no idea who it was and from where the sound came. After 10-15 minutes, his mother said that somebody shot her son. We don't know from where the shooter came and where he went. After 10-15 minutes, police and Army came here and we took him (Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh) to the hospital, the doctor declared him dead..."