NEW DELHI: In a tragic series of events, a former sarpanch was killed, and a tourist couple from Rajasthan was injured in two separate terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday night.
Officials reported that the first attack occurred at an open tourist camp near Pahalgam. Terrorists fired upon Farha, a resident of Jaipur, and her spouse, Tabrez, at Yannar in Anantnag. Both were evacuated to a hospital for treatment. The Kashmir Zone Police posted on X, “Terrorists fired upon and injured a woman, Farha, a resident of Jaipur (in Rajasthan) and her spouse Tabrez at Yannar in Anantnag. The injured were evacuated to a hospital for treatment. The area has been cordoned off. Further details shall follow.”
Shortly after this incident, former sarpanch Aijaz Sheikh was shot dead by terrorists in Hirpora, Shopian, around 10:30 pm. Sheikh, who was associated with the BJP, was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
The areas in Anantnag and Shopian have been cordoned off, and search operations have been launched to apprehend the attackers.
These attacks come as Jammu and Kashmir are preparing for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, with polling in Baramulla scheduled for May 20 in the fifth round of the seven-phase general elections.
Political parties across the spectrum condemned the attacks. Former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti expressed her concerns on X, saying, “While we condemn the attack in Pahalgam today that resulted in injuries to two tourists followed by another attack on a (former) sarpanch in Hirpora, Shopian – the timing of these attacks given that the south election was delayed without any reason is a cause of concern. Especially keeping in mind normalcy claims touted by GOI (Government of India).”
National Conference leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah also denounced the terror attacks, emphasizing that such acts of brutality hinder long-term peace in Jammu and Kashmir. They urged all communities to unite in these challenging times and support efforts towards lasting harmony. “Their thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families during this difficult period,” stated the party.
The BJP also condemned the killing of Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh. In a statement, the party said, “We strongly condemn the killing of ex-sarpanch Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh in Hirpora, Shopian, South Kashmir, by terrorists today. Aijaz Ahmad was a brave soldier of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP firmly stands with the family of Aijaz Ahmad, who lost his life in this terror attack.”
As the state gears up for crucial elections, these violent incidents highlight the ongoing challenges and threats to security and peace in the region.
