2 NC MEN SHOT DEAD IN J&K
No outfit has claimed responsibility; Omar Abdullah, Mufti condemn killings
Unidentified gunmen shot dead two National Conference workers and injured another Srinagar on Friday.
THE NC AND THE PDP HAVE ANNOUNCED A BOYCOTT OF THE MUNICIPAL AND PANCHAYAT POLLS AGAINST REVOKING THE SPECIAL STATUS ACCORDED TO J&K
Unidentified gunmen shot dead two National Conference (NC) workers and injured another party worker in the Karfali Mohallah locality in the interiors of Srinagar on Friday, police said.
The killings have come three days ahead of the first phase of elections for local bodies in the state. No militant outfit has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which the police has blamed on militants.
According to eyewitnesses, two gunmen opened fire at the trio from close range in the old city area. All three were referred to the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital, where Mushtaq Ahmad Wani and Nazir Ahmad Bhat succumbed to their injuries. The third person has been identified as Shakeel Ahmad Zagoo. Senior superintendent of police Imtiaz Ismail said investigations have begun.
Condemning the attack, National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah tweeted, “I cannot condemn strongly enough the murderous terrorist attack against three of my party workers. Nazir Ahmed Bhat (working in the office of MLA Shamima Firdous) and Mushtaq Ahmed Wani have been killed. Allah jannat naseeb karey.’’
Former J&K chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the killing. “Pained to hear about the killing of two NC workers. My heart goes out to their families and children. Cannot possibly imagine what they must be going through.’’
The first phase of the local body elections in Kashmir is on Monday, when three wards of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) goes to polls. Officials said that security of candidates contesting the elections will be reviewed in view of Friday’s killings, adding that a manhunt for the gunmen is underway.
The NC and the PDP have announced a boycott of the municipal and panchayat polls on the grounds that Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 35A is under threat.
However, candidates from the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as well as many independents have filed their nomination for the 73 SMC wards.