SRINAGAR (KIMS) — A former Sarpanch was shot dead, and a tourist couple from Rajasthan was injured in separate militant attacks in South Kashmir last night.
Reports said, Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh, a former Sarpanch affiliated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was critically injured after being fired upon by suspected militants in the Heerpora area of Shopian district. He was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment where he succumbed to his injuries.
In a similar attack in the Yannar area of Anantnag district, a tourist couple from Jaipur, Rajasthan, identified as Farha and her husband Tabrez, were injured and taken to the hospital for treatment.
Following the attacks, security forces cordoned off the areas and launched searches to nab the attackers.
The former Chief Minister’s of Jammu and Kashmir have condemned the attacks on the former Sarpanch and the tourist couple in South Kashmir.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President Ms. Mehbooba Mufti while condemning the attacks in a post on X said, “While we condemn the attack in Pahalgam today that resulted in injuries to two tourists followed by another attack on a sarpanch in Heerpora, 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.”
“Very sorry to hear about the twin militant attacks in South Kashmir against tourists & a political worker of the BJP. I unequivocally condemn these deadly attacks. My condolences to the family of Aijaz Ahmed. May Allah grant him place in Jannt. I also pray that Tabrez & Farah, from Jaipur in Rajasthan, make a complete recovery,” the National Conference (NC) Vice-President, Omar Abdullah said in a post on X. — (KIMS)