Unidentified militants shot dead Bharatiya Janata Party leader Gul Mohammed Mir in his house in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Saturday night. He was the vice president of the BJP unit in Anantnag district.
The police said three militants went to Mir’s house in Nowgam Verinag area and asked for the keys to his car, PTI reported. While they were driving, they shot Mir, a police official said, adding that Mir was then taken to a hospital but he died of his injuries.
The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP demanded strict action against the “ill elements who are spoiling peace in valley and killing innocent people”. BJP’s state spokesperson Altaf Thakur termed Mir’s killing barbaric. “He was under constant threat from militants, yet his security was taken back,” Thakur added, according to the Hindustan Times.
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti and Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee President Ghulam Ahmad Mir also condemned Gul Mohammed Mir’s killing.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condemned the murder. “His contribution towards strengthening the party in J&K will always be remembered,” Modi tweeted. “Condolences to his family and well-wishers.”
BJP National President Amit Shah said he was saddened by Mir’s killing. “Extremist forces in the valley can’t demoralise BJP karyakartas [workers] with violence,” he tweeted. “My condolences with the bereaved family.”
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