BJP leader fired at in Kashmir, critical

JAMMU/SRINAGAR: Terrorists attacked a local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Tuesday even as authorities in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir imposed restrictions and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced celebrations in Jammu to mark the first anniversary of the nullification of Article 370, which accorded special status to the erstwhile state.

Police said the terrorists attacked panchayat chief and BJP member Arif Ahmad at Akhran in Kulgam district. Inspector general of police Vijay Kumar said the terrorists fired on Ahmad. “He was shifted to emergency hospital Qazigund. He had firearm injury in neck and condition is critical.”

BJP state spokesman Altaf Thakur confirmed the attack. “He (Arif) was targeted by the militants inside his house and the sarpanch has been shifted to hospital for the treatment.”

In Srinagar, the government said there were apprehensions of protests and “subversive activities” on Wednesday. Groups of policemen and paramilitary personnel patrolled the main roads and made people stay indoors.

The government removed the curfew in Srinagar on Tuesday but said restrictions on assembly and movement of people will continue.

At many places, roads were blocked with barbed wires.