Srinagar: Suspected terrorists shot dead a BJP leader and his wife at Lal Chowk in South Kashmir's Anantnag district on Monday. The deceased couple has been identified as Ghulam Rasool Dar and his wife Jawahira.


Both were panchayat members. Police inform that Lashkar-e-Taiba has carried out the murder.


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According to the police, gunmen entered the rented house of BJP leader Ghulam Rasool Dar, who was the sarpanch of Redwani Kulgam in Lal Chowk Anantnag, and began firing indiscriminately.


Both Dar and his wife Jawahira suffered serious injuries and were taken to GMC Anantnag, but were declared brought dead.


Inspector-General of Police Vijay Kumar, visiting the spot, said that the BJP sarpanch and his wife were staying in a secure hotel till recently and were allowed to stay at their house at their own request.
 
He reported that Lashkar-e-Taiba was behind the attack in which Ghulam Rasool Dar (sarpanch) of Redwani Kulgam and wife Zawahira were killed.


The IGP said, “Earlier the couple was staying in a secure hotel in Kulgam. At his request, he was allowed to stay at his house".


Condemning the killing, the Lieutenant Governor said that the culprits would be brought to justice soon. 



Expressing shock at the brutal killing of the BJP leader, party spokesperson Altaf Thakur said that Dar was not only associated with the panchayat but was also the district president of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Kisan Morcha.  



PDP President Mehbooba Mufti and People's Conference chief Sajjad Lone have also condemned the killing.