New Delhi: The militants shot dead a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker identified as Javeed Ahmad Dar in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Tuesday.
The assailants fired upon Javeed Ahmad Dar near his residence at Brazloo Jageer area of the south Kashmir district at around 4.30 p.m., the officials said.
Dar, who was the BJP's constituency president of Homeshalibugh assembly constituency, died on the spot, the officials added, PTI reported.
The officials further said the security forces have cordoned off the area and added a hunt has been launched to nab the militants.
Meanwhile, the leaders of various political parties in Jammu and Kashmir condemned the attack.
The former chief minister and National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah condemned the terror attack and offered his heartfelt condolences to the BJP worker’s family and colleagues.
“Terrible news from Kulgam. Javved Ahmed was gunned down in cold blood. I unreservedly condemn this terror attack and send my heartfelt condolences to Javved's family and colleagues. May Allah grant him place in Jannat,” he tweeted.
The National Conference also condemned the BJP leader’s assassination and said such dastardly acts are a hindrance to peace in Kashmir.
“JKNC unequivocally condemns the assassination of BJP leader Javved Ahmad in Kulgam. This is an act of cowardice and such dastardly acts are a hindrance to peace in Kashmir. Our deepest condolences to bereaved family in this time of grief,” the National Conference said on Twitter.
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The former chief minister and People's Democratic Party (PDP) supremo Mehbooba Mufti while condemning the killing said there is no place for such acts of violence.
“Condemn the killing of BJP leader Javaid Dar & there is no place for such acts of violence. Sympathies & condolences to his family,” she tweeted.
BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir spokesperson Altaf Thakur also condemned the killing and called it a cowardly and barbaric act.
Appealing to the police to nab the killers and punish them sternly, he said the militants are feeling frustrated and targeting innocents.
“Killing unarmed people won't lead to anything. It is cowardly and a barbaric act,” he added.