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News Agency ANI reported that the incident happened at main road Lukbawan in Anantnag district at about 6 pm today. Some unknown terrorists fired upon one Congress Sarpanch. Ajay Pandit was soon shifted to hospital for treatment. However, the victim later on succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
Pandit was taken to Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag for treatment, where he was declared brought dead. Principal GMC Anantnag Dr. Showkat Jeelani said that Pandita had multiple bullet injuries in the upper body and died due to excessive blood loss and damage to vital organs.
Meanwhile, Police have confirmed that four militants have been gunned down in an encounter that broke out on Monday morning in the Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir. Though the encounter has ended, but search operation is underway to ensure the number of militants.
Meanwhile, the area has been cordoned off to nab the attackers. Arms and ammunition have been recovered from them. The connection of the militants with the terrorist group is still unsure.
Briefing on the incident, the Army in a statement said, "Joint operation launched in the early hours today on intelligence input by J&K Police. The cordon was laid and contact established with the terrorists. A firefight ensued. Four terrorists eliminated."
Jammu and Kashmir Congress president G.A. Mir while condemning the killing a Sarpach affiliated with the party, claimed that slain had been “feeling unsafe from the last 2 months and that the authorities were informed about it.”
“He has been for the last two months telling that he was not feeling safe. He had conveyed it on his own means to the authorities,” Mir was quoted by the local news agency.
This comes a day after a joint troop of 178 battalions of Central Reserve Police Force, Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operation Group at Zainapora launched a cordon and search operation in Shopian. During the encounter, at least five militants were killed in Reban area of Shopian district on Sunday morning.
A leading daily had quoted a Jammu & Kashmir police official who said that "a gunfight broke out after the militants opened fire at a search party of the forces." "In the exchange of fire, three militants were killed," the official said.
(With additional information from ABP News correspondent Asif Qureshi)