Two workers of National Conference (NC) were shot dead and another was injured after being attacked by unidentified militants in Habbakadal area of old city Srinagar on Friday.
The incident occurs just three days ahead of first phase of civic polls in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sources said that the militants fired from a close range at the three— Mushtaq Wani, Nazir Wani and Shakeel Zangoo— at Karffali Mohalla in the heart of city at around 11.30 am.
They were immediately taken to a nearby hospital, where Mushtaq and Nazir succumbed to their injuries.
The slain, according to reports, were close aides of Shamima Firdous, the NC MLA from the area.
Imtiaz Ismail Parray, SSP Srinagar, while confirming the death of two people in the incident said, “They had some political background, we are ascertaining more details.” No militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the killings.
“I cannot condemn strongly enough the murderous terrorist 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 (sic), Omar Abdullah, former chief minister and NC leader, tweeted.
" My heart goes out to their families & children. Cannot possibly imagine what they must be going through,” Mehbooba Mufti, former chief minister and PDP president, tweeted.
The attack has belied the claims of the government of providing foolproof security in the valley and has added more to the anxiety ahead of the civic polls.
Two female candidates withdrew their nominations from the ULB election after the killings.
On Thursday, 13 BJP candidates withdrew their nominations and resigned from the basic membership of the party following threats.
The killings are likely to affect voter turnout, as many people were already scared to go out and vote.
The incident has also strengthened the claims of the PDP and the NC, who decided to stay away from the polls saying the situation in the valley was "not conducive.”
