BJP WORKER KILLED, MANY QUIT PARTY

SRINAGAR: Nearly a dozen BJP workers in Kashmir resigned from the party following recent attacks on villagelevel leaders by militants, which prompted the party to suggest "hostel-type" secure accommodation for its members and their families in each district in the Valley.

Worries have escalated after Abdul Hamid Najar, BJP's OBC ' morcha' district president from Budgam, died at a hospital on Monday, a day after he was shot at in his village. Admitting several party workers, most lower-rung activists, have resigned over the last few days following the recent attacks on BJP panchayat members and sarpanches, a BJP leader said some were from Budgam.

Letters and videos of several BJP workers announcing resignations or disassociation with the party have been posted on social media.

The BJP leader said three party workers, including two panchayat members and a sarpanch from Kulgam district of south Kashmir, have resigned from the party. "There is one from Handwara, one from Kupwara and one from Sopore also," he added.

The attack on Najar followed the killings of Wasim Bari, ex-BJP Bandipora chief, father Bashir Ahmad and brother Umar Bari last month in North Kashmir.

A BJP panch was shot at and hurt on August 4 while a sarpanch was killed two days later in south kashmir’s Kulgam. BJP media in-charge Manzoor Bhat dismissed the resignations as of no consequence. "These all are lower rung workers. This will not affect the party,” he said.