PDP worker shot dead by militants in Pulwama

Unidentified militants shot dead a worker of ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in south Kashmir’s volatile Pulwama district on Saturday night. A police official said the militants entered into the house of Bashir Ahmad Dar and his cousin Altaf Ahmad Dar at Qasbaya, Pulwama, 35 kms from here, late Saturday night and asked the duo to accompany them.

“After abducting them the militants fired upon them, leaving the duo in pool of blood. They were rushed to a hospital where doctors declared Bashir as brought dead while Altaf was referred to Srinagar hospital for specialised treatment,” he added.

While Bashir was a worker of ruling PDP his cousin Altaf, according to reports, used to run a medical shop in neighbouring Rajpora area. Sources said the duo had been warned by the militants in the past to disassociate themselves from mainstream politics. “One of the relatives of deceased Bashir is a senior police officer,” they revealed.

Opposition National Conference leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted on the death: “More bloodshed and more families in mourning tonight. Terror and violence only take #Kashmir further down the path of destruction”.

Earlier, dozens of students of Degree College Pulwama had been injured when they clashed with security forces on Saturday afternoon. In the evening, another youth was shot dead by paramilitary BSF troopers in congested Batamaloo area of the Srinagar. The Valley has been on the edge since April 9, when eight civilians were killed in clashes during by-polling to Srinagar Parliament constituency.