Army to assist local police in probing BJP J&K secretary's murder

The Army has been called out to help the civil administration to maintain order in the communally sensitive Kishtwar even as the Jammu and Kashmir police constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the assassination of BJP state secretary Anil Parihar and his brother Ajit Parihar on Thursday evening.

Police is questioning two Personal Security Officers (PSOs) of the BJP leader, who were missing when the incident took place. Anil Parihar and his brother Ajit Parihar were assassinated by suspected terrorists when they were returning home after closing their bookshop, at Tapal Moholla in the Kishtwar district on Thursday evening.

Fearing trouble, the district administration clamped curfew and requisitioned the Army to help the civil administration to maintain peace and order in the town. Army columns carried out a flag march on Friday morning in the town to keep the anti-national, anti-social elements at bay.

"Army carried out the first flag march at 11.45 am in the town. Since then they are continuously staging the flag march in the town. Maximum Army has been deployed (to help the civil administration in maintaining peace). The situation is under control. Curfew has been imposed in Kishtwar town and Section 144 CrPC has been imposed in Chatru and Padder sub-divisions," said Angrez Singh Rana, district magistrate of Kishtwar.

Rana said the SIT has been constituted to probe the matter and the PSOs are being questioned. "It is unfortunate the PSOs were not accompanying the two brothers at the time of the incident. Obviously, they will be questioned. Plus SIT has been constituted. IGP and DIG of the area are camping here," he said.

Police suspected that terrorists are behind the killing of BJP leader and his brother in Kishtwar. Sources said the investigations have pointed out that the killings were aimed at creating communal strife in the area.

This is the third attack on the politicians in last one month. Two days ahead of civic polls on October 5, terrorists assassinated two National Conference workers and injured another in the sensitive Old Srinagar city. On October 28 terrorists had killed a PDP worker, Mohammad Amin at Gangbug in the outskirts of Srinagar.

"Condemn killing of BJP State Secretary and his brother at Kishtwar last night. In a very short span of time, this is the third incident of killing of political workers. The killings are followed by counter threats of violence to avenge their deaths, which clearly are not working," tweeted Mehbooba Mufti, former J&K chief minister.

Jammu Inc too has jumped onto the bandwagon and warned the administration that the killing of civilians would not be tolerated.

"People across the state should remain vigilant and not fall prey to the ugly designs of disruptive forces as militancy was not in anybody's interest. I appeal to People to maintain communal harmony and unitedly stand up against such cowardly killings," said Rakesh Gupta, president of Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Dual Murder

• Police suspected that terrorists are behind the killing of BJP leader and his brother in Kishtwar 
• Sources said the probe pointed out that the killings were aimed at creating communal strife in the area 
• This is the third attack on the politicians in last one month