J&K BJP leader’s kin dies in grenade attack
A three-and-a-half year-old boy was killed, and six others were injured after a grenade was allegedly thrown at the residence of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionary, Jasbir Singh, in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K)’S Rajouri district late on Thursday, police said.
A police officer said Singh (36), his parents and three other relatives sustained injuries in the attack, while his nephew succumbed during treatment at a government hospital.
“A child has died and seven others have been injured in the grenade attack. The incident took place around 9 pm on Thursday. The house is on the roadside. An FIR has been registered by the police,” deputy commissioner Rajesh Kumar Shavan said. “We are investigating the reason for the attack,” he added.
The deputy commissioner said no terror organisation has claimed the attack and the investigation is underway.
Tirath Singh, uncle of Jasbir Singh said, “Some family members were sitting outside to eat food. The lights went out around 9 pm that is when the grenade attack took place, and the power resumed a minute afterwards. The four-year-old child died on the spot as he had a deep wound. Jasbir’s mother was also injured.” He also alleged that some people had threatened to kill him and had visited the house. “We had informed the police about the threat. Security was deployed but was later taken back,” said his uncle. “It was a planned attack. Our movement was monitored,” said Ramesh Singh, father of Jasbir Singh, who was also injured.
The incident is the latest in a series of attacks on politicians, especially belonging to the BJP, in J&K. On August 9, a village head affiliated with the BJP and his wife were killed by Lashkare-taiba terrorists in Anantnag.
Lieutenant governor, Manoj Sinha, condemned the killing of the minor boy at Khandli bridge in Rajouri. “Strongly condemn the cowardly attack in the house of a political leader in Rajouri in which a 2-year old child was killed &others were injured. My deepest condolences to family & prayers for early recovery of injured. Perpetrators of this heinous act will be brought to justice soon,” LG Sinha tweeted this morning. Cutting across party lines, leaders of different political parties have strongly condemned the attack.
BJP’S J&K unit chief Ravinder Raina, who met the injured at a Rajouri hospital, has appealed to the police to immediately arrest those responsible. “We strongly condemn the attack and appeal to Jammu and Kashmir Police to immediately arrest the terrorists responsible for the heinous and cowardly attack. They have claimed the life of an innocent child and injured six others. They will have to pay the price,” he said.
The J&K unit of the Congress has demanded enhanced security measures. “We demand the security be further beefed up in the entire district in view of the reports of fresh attempts of infiltration from across the border,” said J&K Congress’ chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma .Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti extended her sympathies to the victims.
“Condemn the grenade attack in Rajouri in which a four year old child was killed & several others injured. My sympathies with their loved ones,” Mufti said in a Twitter post.