Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Apr 6: There has been an increase in militant attacks on activists and leaders of mainstream parties, particularly the BJP, with at least six incidents taking place in one week.
Several people associated with the NC, PDP and the BJP have been targetted in Pulwama and Shopian districts of South Kashmir.
"The attacks and threats have created panic among all workers of mainstream parties and policemen and their families in south Kashmir," a BJP worker said. He said that security has been sought for local BJP leaders and activists on the basis of threat perception.
"In the last three weeks, at least seven BJP leaders or their houses were attacked in Kashmir by militants or unidentified people," the BJP leader said.
He said on March 27, the house of State Minority Morcha worker Mohammad Latif was burnt at Bijbehara in South Kashmir. "He was not present that time. No family member was hurt," he said.
He said on March 1, house of BJP worker Arif Raja was attacked with stones in downtown Srinagar's Sakidafar area in which his daughter got injured. "Similarly, gunmen entered the house of Abdul Rashid of Mattan on March 26. On same day, Jooli, a BJP worker's house was also attacked," he said. Mohammad Maqbool, district president ST Srinagar, was also attacked, he said.
On March 15, militants opened fire at BJP leader Anwar Khan, who escaped unhurt. BJP leader Altaf Thakur said that they have sought security for leaders and workers who are facing threats. He said that they have demanded security cover for around 30 leaders in Kashmir. "BJP leaders and workers were attacked several times in the past one week," Thakur said. Senior BJP leader and Industries minister Chander Prakash Ganga is handling the security issue of party leaders from Kashmir. A police official said that it was a fresh strategy from militants to target unarmed policemen and mainstream workers. "It is to create fear among policemen and their families. They don't want that workers should participate in rallies," the official said.
Recently, militants shot dead a special police officer near Murran Chowk in south Kashmir's Pulwama district. Mohammad Ashraf was a former militant who was now posted in Srinagar as a police officer. Ashraf suffered serious bullet injuries and was shifted to a nearby hospital. However, he succumbed to his injuries. He was not wearing uniform.
Earlier militants had fired at another SPO, Trilok Singh in Khanabal area of Anantnag.
Another SPO had been shot dead by militants in Anantnag district. According to a police officer, a group of militants entered the house of Mushtaq Ahmed Sheikh in Bijbehara area of Anantnag in the evening and opened fire at him. While Sheikh was killed on the spot, his wife was critically injured. |
