Days before the Lok Sabha polls for the Anantnag-Rajouri seat are held on May 25, militants fatally shot a local politician and injured a tourist couple in two separate incidents late on May 18.
A tourist couple were shot at and injured in a militant attack in south Kashmir’s Anantnag on May 18. The incident took place near a popular tourist destination of Pahalgam.
According to the police, terrorists fired upon and injured a lady and her spouse in Anantnag’s Yannar area. The police identified the victims as Farha and Tabrez from Jaipur. “The injured has been evacuated to hospital for treatment,” the police said. Security forces have cordoned off the spot where the attack took place.
A woman is treated for her injuries after terrorists attacked a tourist camp in J&K’s Anantnag district on May 18, 2024. | Photo Credit: PTI
In another militant attack within an hour of the previous attack, the police said that one person, Ajaz Ahmad Sheikh, was shot at and injured in Shopian’s Hurpora area. Official sources said the victim succumbed to his injuries.
Preliminary reports suggest that the victim was a former sarpanch and was associated with the BJP.
The areas in Anantnag and Shopian have been cordoned off and search operations have been launched to nab the attackers, the officials said.
The back-to-back attacks come at a time when campaigning for the parliamentary polls in the Anantnag-Rajouri seat is going on. Polling in Baramulla will be held on May 20 in the fifth round of the seven-phase general elections.
Political parties condemn attacks
Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, including the National Conference, PDP and the BJP, condemned the attacks.
Former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, who is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from the Anantnag-Rajouri seat, said on X, “While we condemn the attack in Pahalgam today that resulted in injuries to two tourists followed by another attack on a (former) sarpanch in Hirpora, Shopian - the timing of these attacks given that the south election was delayed without any reason is a cause of concern. Especially keeping in mind normalcy claims touted by GOI (Government of India).”
Polling for the seat was scheduled to be conducted on May 7 but was deferred after a few political parties in Jammu and Kashmir raised concerns over weather conditions. Polling will now being held on May 25.
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and vice president Omar Abdullah also condemned the terror attacks.
“They have said that such acts of brutality remain a serious impediment to achieving long-term peace in J&K. They urged all communities to come together in these challenging times and support efforts towards lasting harmony. Their thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families during this difficult period,” a statement from the party said.
The BJP in a statement said, “We strongly condemn the killing of ex-sarpanch Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh in Hirpora, Shopian, South Kashmir, by terrorists today.” “Aijaz Ahmad was a brave soldier of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP firmly stands with the family of Aijaz Ahmad, who lost his life in this terror attack,” it said.
(With PTI inputs)
Published - May 18, 2024 11:29 pm IST
