JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir BJP state secretary Anil Parihar and his brother were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Jammu's Kishtwar district on Thursday.  "Anil Parihar and his brother were shot at by terrorists in Kishtwar around 8 pm today. They were taken to a hospital immediately where they succumbed to injury," BJP state unit chief Ravinder Raina said. According to sources, Anil was returning home with his brother Ajit, who had a stationary shop, when they were attacked by unidentified militants in Tappal locality.

Meanwhile, curfew has been imposed in Kishtwar keeping in view the prevailing situation in the area due to the assassination.

Anil Parihar and his brother Ajeet were returning from their shop in Kishtwar when they were fired upon from close range at a dark, narrow lane leading to their house, the officials said. The assailants were apparently waiting for the brothers to return home and used pistols to target them, they said. They were rushed to a hospital where doctors declared them brought dead, they said.

Divisional Commissioner (Jammu) Sanjeev Verma said that police are investigating the matter. BJP state general secretary Ashok Kaul condemned the attack. This is the first attack on any political leader in the Jammu region in past several years.

(With inputs from PTI)