28-yr-old BJP leader, father, brother shot dead by militants in Kashmir
HIS SECURITY GUARDS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR DERELICTION OF DUTY , SAYS KASHMIR IG
SRINAGAR : Militants on Wednesday shot dead former Bandipora district BJP president Waseem Bari, 28, his father and younger brother outside their shop in the town around 9pm on Wednesday. Police said militants attacked Waseem Bari at his shop at Muslimabad in the town. In the attack, Bari’s father Bashir Ahmad and younger brother Umar also got injured and they were they were declared brought dead at the district hospital. The attack took place near the police station where Bari had a house and a shop.
As per the police, Bari’s family had been provided eight security guards but they were not around when the attack took place. Inspector general of police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said, “The protective service officers (PSOs) are being arrested for dereliction of duty.” Kumar said the PSOs were sitting on the first floor of Bari’s house, which is adjacent to the shop, at the time of the attack.
Soon after the attack, police and army launched a search operation in the area to track down the militants. Inspector general of police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said Bari was at the shop with his father and brother, when unidentified militants shot at them. “All three later succumbed to their injuries,” Kumar said.
Former J&K CM Omar Abdullah condemned the killing. “Sorry to hear about the murderous terror attack on the BJP functionaries and their father in Bandipore earlier this evening. I condemn the attack. My condolences to their families. Sadly the violent targeting of mainstream political workers continues unabated,” tweeted Omar.
Bari was a known face of BJP in Bandipora district and had contested the 2014 assembly election as an independent candidate. He is the senior most BJP leader killed in Kashmir since revocation of article 370 by the Centre last August.