Anantnag, Aug 09: Militants on Monday afternoon shot dead BJP Sarpanch and Kisan Morcha district president and his wife at Anantnag district of South Kashmir.

An official said that a BJP leader and Sarpanch namely Ghulam Rasool of Redwani Bala and his wife Jawhara Banoo were fired at by militants at their rented accommodation in Anantnag town.

He said the couple was shifted to GMC Anantnag for treatment. However, they succumbed to their injuries on the way to the hospital, an official said.

A Police official said  soon after their killing, their PSO was suspended with immediate effect. He added that Lashker-e-Toiba is behind the attack and attackers will be tracked soon. “The couple was living at a safe accommodation in Kulgam, however, they were allowed to stay in Anantnag on their request,” the official said.

Meanwhile, former chief ministers of erstwhile J&K State Omar Abdullah are among those who condemned the attack.

“I unequivocally condemn the assassination of Ghulam Rasool Dar & his wife. They join a long list of mainstream politicians killed for their political beliefs. My condolences to his family & colleagues. May Allah grant the departed place in Jannat,” tweeted Abdullah. The PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the attack. “Extremely sorry to hear that the BJP District President & his wife have been shot dead by militants today. My condolences to their families & loved ones.”

BJP JK spokesman Altaf Thakur also condemned the killing of district president Kisan Morcha BJP for Kulgam Gulam Rasool Dar, who was also a Sarpanch and his wife in a militant attack at KP Road Anantnag today, terming the killing as barbaric and cowardly. Thakur said the attacking and killing innocent people will lead to nowhere and the acts reflect the frustration on part of militants.

Thakur expressed sympathies with the bereaved family and urged police to nab the attackers and punish them sternly. Meanwhile, police in a statement said that today at about 6 pm, Anantnag Police received information about an incident at Lalchowk area of District Anantnag where militants had fired upon BJP Sarpanch and his wife, a Panch. “IGP Kashmir, DIG South Kashmir and SSP Anantnag reached at the crime spot,” the police spokesman said. “Preliminary investigation revealed that militants barged inside the rented accommodation of BJP Sarpanch Ghulam Rasool Dar son of Ghulam Hassan Dar resident of Redwani Kulgam at Lalchowk, Anantnag and fired indiscriminately from pistol.”

The police statement said that in the attack, BJP Sarpanch and his wife Jawhara Begum received critical gunshot injuries, who were immediately shifted to hospital, where both were declared brought dead. “Although the deceased was provided a secured accommodation at Snow cap hotel Kulgam and both stayed there for a short period but they had been continuously insisting to stay at their house at Anantnag Town and also submitted an undertaking in this regard,” it adds.

The police spokesman said that on the request of the couple, they were allowed to stay at said house in Anantnag. “He was also provided with one PSO who however was found absent from duty at the time of incident. The PSO has been placed under suspension,” the spokesman said, adding that “Police have registered a case in this regard under relevant sections of law.”

According to the police, the IGP Kashmir said that two bike-borne militants of LeT outfit were involved in this barbaric incident. “Investigation is in progress and officers continue to work to establish the full circumstances of this crime. Area has been cordoned and search in the area is going on,” the spokesman said—(kno)