BJP sarpanch shot dead in south Kashmir
Srinagar: BJP leader and sarpanch Sajad Ahmad Khanday was shot dead by militants near his home in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Thursday, police said.
The militants, who appeared to have studied the area closely, fired at him from close range at Vessu in Qazigund area, 60 km from here, police officials said.
Khanday was immediately rushed to a hospital in nearby Anantnag district where he was declared brought dead, they said.
The incident comes less than 48 hours after a BJP-affiliated panchayat member, Arif Ahmad Khan, was shot at in Kulgam district. He is recovering from his injuries in hospital.
Notably, the attacks on sarpanchs affiliated to BJP, yesterday triggered a resignation by three BJP workers in Qazigund area of Kulgam. Today nearly a dozen BJP leaders and workers resigned from the party, sources said.
Earlier, on July 8, militants had killed BJP’s young face in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, Waseem Bari, his father and younger brother at their residence. The killing of Bari had forced top BJP leaders that include party General Secretary Ram Madhav, J&K affairs in-charge Avinash Rai Khanna and MoS in PMO Dr Jitendera Singh to visit Bandipora to offer their condolences.
Senior BJP leader and former Member Legislative Council (MLC) Sofi Yousuf while speaking to media men over the attacks on BJP sarpanchs and leaders, said that unfortunately some people are still active to target innocents.
“Hundreds of people participated in his funeral and every eye was moist. All the people present here told me that the slain was pro-people. These acts won’t deter our resolve and there will be hundreds like him who would join BJP in the days ahead,” Yousuf said. (with inputs from PTI)
Press Trust of India
