Unknown gunmen killed the personal security officer of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Sajad Mufti outside a mosque after Friday prayers in the Bijbehara area of Anantnag.
“Policeman Farooq Ahmad Reshi sustained critical gunshot injuries. He was evacuated to hospital for medical treatment. However, he succumbed to his injuries,” the police said.
Mr. Mufti was inside the mosque when the gunmen struck outside and snatched the service rifle from the constable, police officials said.
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The attack came just six days after National Conference (NC) leader Peer Tauqeer Shah’s guard was killed in an attack in the Kokernag area of Anantnag.
Heavy price
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, a close relative of Mr. Mufti, said, “Such dastardly acts only add to the woes of the masses. Either ways, Kashmiris are paying a heavy price.”
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Several parties have condemned the attack.
NC’s view
“Another police bodyguard killed in the line of duty in south Kashmir. I condemn the attack,” National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah said.
The Congress, in a statement, demanded that the authorities “ascertain the identity of the killers for severe punishment”.
The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee described the incident as a “mindless and shameful act on the part of killers”.
“Violence in any form and manifestation is condemnable. Such incidents are inhuman and unfortunate and the perpetrators of violence have achieved nothing except for rendering irreparable loss to the victim family,” Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader, said.