J&K: Attack On BJP Leader Pre- Planned By Two Lashkar Militants Says Kashmir IGP

The IGP of Kashmir has said that the attack on the BJP leader Wasim Bari was pre-planned and carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba militants.

Bandipra: Security forces personnel guard outside the residence of BJP leader Sheikh Waseem Bari in Bandipora district of north Kashmir, Thursday. Bari, along with his father and brother, was allegedly killed on Wednesday by militants. (PTI Photo/S.Irfan)(PTI09-07-2020_000013B)

Srinagar: The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar said on Thursday that the attack on BJP’s Bandipora leader Waseem Bari was “pre-planned” by two Lashkar-e-Taiba militants. He also said that all the 10 personal security officers (PSOs) who were deployed for the slain leader’s protection have been dismissed from service and arrested. Kumar along with the DIG North Kashmir and SSP Bandipora visited the site of the incident and examined the CCTV footage at the police station which is located opposite the BJP leader’s house. “We have checked the CCTV footage in the presence of army and CRPF officers. Two militants from Lashkar-e-Taiba have carried the attack. One is a local who has been identified as Abid and another is a foreigner. Local militant Abid fired at the trio from a close range with a pistol while the other one was guiding him,” said the IGP. In the deadly attack that happened in the evening on Wednesday at Bari’s Muslimabad residence in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, his father Bashir Ahmed and brother Umar Bari were also killed. According to Kumar, the attack was ‘pre-planned’ as the BJP leader had visited his ward and had returned home along all with his PSOs. “After entering his house, his PSOs had gone to their room and Bar went to his shop where his father and brother were also present,” said Kumar. He also added, “The trio sustained head injuries and succumbed on the way to the hospital. We will track both the militants soon and eliminate them.” The IGP also talked about the arrest of the 10 PSOs and said, "they are being questioned." The BJP leader Sheikh Wasim Bari was killed after terrorists opened fire his shop at around 9 pm on Wednesday.