SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Aug 20 (NNN-PTI) – Unidentified gunmen, who were believed to be militants, yesterday shot dead a political activist, belonging to a pro-India political party, in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.
The slain activist, identified as Ghulam Hassan Lone, was attacked at his residence at village Devsar of Kulgam district, about 63 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
The police blamed militants for the killing.
“Militants this evening (last night), fired upon Ghulam Hassan Lone at his residence, from a point-blank range,” a police official posted in Kulgam said. “Though he was immediately removed to the nearest medical facility, the doctors there declared him brought dead.”
Reports said, Lone was previously affiliated with the region’s Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and had changed the loyalties three months back.
Following the killing, police teams rushed to the spot to nab the assailants.
Lone’s killing comes a day after gunmen killed a local level leader of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the district.
Militants in the region usually target families and individuals, for their possible links with police and defence agencies. Even people having associations with pro-India political parties and police are targeted at times.
Meanwhile, a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Indian army and a militant were killed yesterday, in an ongoing fierce gunfight between them in the region, police said.
The gunfight broke out at the Thanamandi area of frontier Rajouri district, about 155 km south-west of Srinagar.
A guerilla war goes on between militants and Indian troops in the region, since 1989.
Kashmir, the Himalayan region, divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.– NNN-PTI
