Suspected terrorists shot dead two workers of National Conference and injured another in a shooting spree in Karfali Mohalla area of old Srinagar on Friday while a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel was injured in a grenade attack in south Kashmir’s Tral sub-district, officials said.
Sources said that unidentified gunmen opened fire upon two functionaries of National Conference Nazir Ahmad Bhat and Mushtaq Wani near the residence of latter on Friday morning. They died instantly while another person accompanying them sustained minor injuries.
Police said militants were behind the attack. The attack occurred three days before first phase of urban local body’s elections was being held in Kashmir amid tight security and boycott of two mainstream parties NC and the People’s Democratic Party.
The slain workers were close aides of NC legislator Shamima Firdous who represents the Habba Kadal constituency.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Imtiaz Ismail told reporters that they were ascertaining the details. “It is interior area and we are looking into the matter,” he said.
Governor Satya Paul Malik condemned the attack and said such acts would not defeat the Government’s resolve to conduct the upcoming elections.
National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah and vice president Omar Abdullah condemned the killings. “I cannot condemn strongly enough the murderous terrorist attack against three of my party workers. Allah Jannat naseeb karey,” Omar tweeted.
He said another NC worker Shakeel Ahmad Zangoo has been injured and is in hospital.
Former Chief Ninister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the killing of duo NC workers. “Pained to hear about the killing of two NC workers. My heart goes out to their families and children. Cannot possibly imagine what they must be going through,” Mehbooba tweeted.
In another incident, one CRPF man was wounded in a terrorist attack in Tral area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Friday evening. Security sources said that unidentified terrorists hurled a hand grenade towards security vehicle near main town of Tral.
They said one jawan suffered injuries and was evacuated to hospital for treatment. A manhunt was launched to nab the attackers.