A BJP activist and a policeman were shot dead by terrorists in South Kashmir on Wednesday while the Eid celebrations in Srinagar and various other places in the Valley were marred with clashes between security forces and groups of anti-social elements who hurled stones and waved flags of Pakistan and terror outfit ISIS.
Security forces resorted to lobbing tear gas shells and cane-charging to disperse the violent mob in the old city of Srinagar.
Terrorists around mid-night barged into the residence of a BJP activist Shabir Ahmad Bhat (26) in Pulwama’s Rakh-e-Litter area and abducted him. His bullet-riddled body was recovered this morning. Shabir was the constituency president of the BJP.
He is the third BJP activist to be killed by terrorists in Kashmir. Bhat was under the protection of police and had come home in Pulwama to celebrate Eid.
A policeman, Fayaz Ahmad Shah (34), who had come home on leave to celebrate Eid with his family, was shot dead in the village Zazripora Kulgam when he was returning after offering Eid prayers.
Police said that Fayaz is survived by his wife and two minor daughters aged 5 and 2.
Security forces have launched a hunt for terrorists involved in the killing of Shabir and Fayaz.
BJP President Amit Shah has condemned killing of the BJP activist and in a tweet said: “Anguished to learn about the killing of BJP karyakarta, Shabir Ahmad Bhat by terrorists in Pulwama (J&K). This act of cowardice is highly condemnable. Extremists cannot stop the youth of Kashmir from choosing a better future for themselves. This cycle of violence won’t last long”.
Anguished to learn about the killing of BJP karyakarta, Shabir Ahmad Bhat by terrorists in Pulwama (J&K). This act of cowardice is highly condemnable. Extremists cannot stop the youth of Kashmir from choosing a better future for themselves. This cycle of violence won’t last long. pic.twitter.com/hAOb4ptPeo
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 22, 2018
“The sacrifice of our @BJP4JnK karyakartas will not go in vain. Entire BJP stands firmly with Shabir Ahmad Bhat’s family in this hour of grief. My deepest condolences. May god give his family the strength to bear this tragic loss”, Amit Shah added.
The J-K unit of BJP offered tributes to Shabir at a function in the party headquarters in Jammu.