A political activist, Ghulam Nabi Patail, was killed and two policemen were injured in firing by militants in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, officials said.
Political parties condemned the killing but confusion prevailed over Mr. Patail’s affiliation. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti tweeted, describing him as a senior Congress leader while the Congress said he was a “well-known” activist of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). National Conference leader Omar Abdullah waded in, saying if neither the PDP nor the Congress was willing to accept Mr. Patail as one of their own, he could be called an NC worker.
Mr. Patail had contested the 2002 J&K Assembly elections on Congress ticket but switched over to the Socialist Democratic Party in the 2008 Assembly elections. He did not contest the 2014 State polls. Giving details of the attack, a police official said the militants opened fire in the Rajpora Chowk area.
Mr. Patail, a resident of Shadimarg, died while being taken to a hospital. The condition of the two injured policemen was said to be stable. Security forces have cordoned off the area and a hunt has been launched for the attackers.
”Heartfelt condolences to the family of senior Congress leader, G. N. Patel who was killed by militants today in Rajpora. Such cowardly acts achieve nothing but leave one more family devastated,” Ms. Mufti, who is also the president of PDP, tweeted.
A Congress spokesman also condemned the killing and offered condolences to the bereaved family. Such killings should be condemned by every section of society, the spokesman said.
In a tweet, NC leader Omar Abdullah said: “What terrible news to start the day with here. My heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased & prayers for the injured. Allah Jannat naseeb karay.” The Congress and the PDP had disowned the leader to avoid conveying to their workers that they were at risk, Mr. Abdullah, a former Chief Minister, claimed.
