New Delhi: South Kashmir witnessed two attacks Saturday, which saw an ex-sarpanch affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) killed in Shopian district, while a couple from Rajasthan were shot at in Anantnag district.
The attacks come less than 48 hours before polls open for the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency.
“Between 9:45 PM and 10:30 PM, two shooters shot at him [Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh], near his house in Heerpora, Shopian. Yes, the police investigations are ongoing. He was a Sarpanch for five years with the BJP,” the victim’s brother Wasim Ahmad Sheikh told ThePrint.
Sheikh was brought to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. He was a sarpanch affiliated with the BJP between 2019 and 2024.
Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vidhi Kumar Birdi told ThePrint that the investigation is at the “incipient stage” and it would be “premature and prejudicial” to say anything more at the time.
The BJP strongly condemned the killing of Sheikh, describing him as a “brave soldier” of the party and added that it stands “firmly” with his family in a statement on the social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter).
We strongly condemn the killing of ex-Sarpanch Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh in Heerpora, Shopian by terrorists today.
He was a brave soldier of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Jammu & Kashmir. The BJP firmly stands with the family of Aijaz Ahmad, who lost his life in this terror attack.
— BJP Media Cell kashmir (@MediaCellBJPJK) May 18, 2024
On Sunday, BJP workers led by spokesperson Altaf Thakur held protests in front of the party headquarters in Srinagar against the killing of Sheikh as well as the shooting at tourists in Anantnag.
“BJP leaders of Kashmir unit led by party spokesman Altaf Thakur staged a protest against the killing of BJP worker Aijaz Ahmed Sheikh and alleged attack on tourists at BJP headquarters in Srinagar,” said the BJP in a statement on ‘X’.
The BJP also condemned the arrests of Shopian district leaders for protesting against the killing of Sheikh. The party added that the Shopian district administration had been “informed” of the threats faced by Sheikh and had been requested “appropriate accommodation” for his safety.
BJP Shopian district president Mohd. Yousuf Bhat confirmed to ThePrint that the party had raised the issue of Sheikh’s safety with the district administration a few days ago, but that no security measures were taken before he was killed.
The BJP alleged in its statement on X that their request was not taken “seriously” by the district administration.
Strongly condemn the arrest of BJP Shopian leaders for protesting against the killing of BJP worker Aijaz Ahmad by terrorists last night at Heerpora, Shopian. A few days ago, the BJP informed the DC Shopian that Aijaz Ahmad was facing threats and requested appropriate… pic.twitter.com/112l7I4NwC
— BJP Media Cell kashmir (@MediaCellBJPJK) May 19, 2024
In the second attack, a tourist couple – Farha and her husband Tabrez – from Jaipur, Rajasthan were injured after being shot at in a terror attack at Yannar, in Anantnag district. The couple were evacuated to a nearby hospital, and the area was cordoned off, according to a statement made by the Kashmir Zone Police on ‘X’.
#Terrorist fired upon and injured a lady Farha R/O Jaipur and spouse Tabrez at Yannar, #Anantnag. Injured evacuated to hospital for treatment. Area cordoned off. Further details shall follow.@JmuKmrPolice
— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) May 18, 2024
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha strongly condemned the twin attacks and announced that security forces will “hunt down” those that are attempting to “disrupt” the Union Territory’s “developmental journey”.
On Monday, the electorate of the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency will go to vote as part of the fifth phase of the ongoing general elections. The seat is witnessing a contest between Omar Abdullah from the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, Sajjad Lone from the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference, and Independent candidate Engineer Rashid.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
Also Read: Kashmir’s Jamaat-e-Islami wants to rejoin democratic politics. Won’t abandon its toxic project