Two NC workers shot dead by unknown gunmen in Srinagar
SRINAGAR OCT 05 (PTK): Two days ahead of the municipal and local body polls in the state unknown gunmen shot dead two National Conference (NC) workers and injured another in old City of Srinagar.
According to reports around 11:30 am, unidentified gunmen appeared in congested Karfali Mohalla of the Old City here and fired shots at three persons. The trio were removed to the nearby hospital in critical condition, as the militants fled from the spot after carrying out the attack.
However National Conference leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah expressed shock at the violence against members of his party. He said, “I cannot condemn strongly enough the murderous attack against three of my party workers.” According to reports, hundreds of police forces have rushed to the spot and barricades have been put up in the area. The police has also cut off on the entry and exit points of Srinagar to trace the culprits.
I cannot condemn strongly enough the murderous attack against three of my party workers. Nazir Ahmed Bhat (working in the office of MLA Shamima Firdous) & Mushtaq Ahmed Wani have been killed. Allah Jannat naseeb karey. — Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 5, 2018
Eyewitnesses said that Shakeel Ahmad Zangoo, who was injured in the shooting, ran from the scene when the firing started. The shooters followed him and shot him from a distance. The bullet reportedly hit his arm.
However SSP Srinagar Imtiaz Ismail Parray as saying, “Two people have been killed. They had some political background… we are ascertaining more details.” Abdullah, in a series of tweets, condemned the shooting and said: “Omar Abdullah said Shakeel Ahmad Zangoo has been injured & is in hospital. I pray for his complete & speedy recovery. May the families of Nazir, Mushtaq & Shakeel find strength in this most difficult time“.
Former chief minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti also reacted strongly to the incident and said: “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.”
In response to Mehbooba’s tweet, Abdullah responded: “Thank you for your kind words at this difficult time @MehboobaMufti Sahiba. I’m sure your message of support will give the family some strength at this difficult time.”
Meanwhile a woman candidate from Ward 4 of Dalgate constituency withdrew her nomination papers for the upcoming municipal elections following an attack on NC workers. The attack left two of those workers dead.
The candidate, namely, Muzamil Jan, wife of Bilal Ahmed Sheikh withdrew her papers at 12.35 pm today, reports stated.
Earlier, BJP Dooru Constituency President, Ghulam Hassan Bhat resigned from the basic membership of the party along with workers with immediate effect from today. He also withdrew his nomination papers from the upcoming Municipal elections.
Reports came that, “I withdrew from the party because BJP played with the Kashmiri people. My party failed miserably in solving issues of public importance. No problem of the common man was solved. What is the point of staying the party if we haven’t been able to fulfill our promises?”
Meanwhile, the Joint Resistance Leadership has called for a shutdown in Kashmir on October 8. “JRL leaders asked people to observe complete shutdown across Jammu and Kashmir on 8th October to protest the commencement of the ULB and Panchayat election drama being foisted upon them,” said a JRL statement. (PTK)
