Senior BJP leader, brother shot dead in Kishtwar
Curfew imposed in Kishtwar following protests by BJP workers
Jammu: A senior BJP leader and his brother were shot dead by suspected militants in Kishtwar district Thursday night, officials said.
State secretary of BJP 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.
Confirming the incident, SSP Kishtwar, Rajinder Gupta said that a hunt has been launched to nab the assailants.
“We are investigating as to who is behind the killings,” the SSP said.
He said that Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar has also ordered imposition of curfew in the district.
An official spokesman said that curfew will remain in place till further orders. The move has been ensured to safeguard people’s lives as the situation has turned tense in the area, the official added.
Meanwhile, following the killing, BJP workers started protests in many parts of Kishtwar town.
Soon after the killings, a joint team of army and SOG have launched a massive searches in the area.
KV News
