BJP Leader’s Killing- Attack Was Pre-planned, Lashkar Involved: IGP

*BJP state president Ravinder Raina speaking at a condolence meeting at the slain party leader’s residence in Bandipora. KO Photo: Abid Bhat*

10 PSOs of slain BJP leader dismissed, arrested

Bandipore: Two Lashkar-e-Taiba militants carried out a “pre-planned” attack on the ex BJP district president in Bandipora and that all the 10 personal security officers (PSOs) deployed for slain leader’s protection have been dismissed from service and arrested as well, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar said Thursday.

IGP Kashmir, who visited Bandipora along with the DIG North Kashmir and district SSP, examined the CCTV footage at the police station which is just opposite to the slain BJP leader’s house where he was shot dead along with his brother and father.

Wasim Bari, his father Bashir Ahmed and bother Umar Bari were killed in the attack that took place Wednesday evening at Muslimabad Bandipora.

“We have checked the CCTV footage in presence of army and CRPF officers. Two militants from Lashkar-e-Taiba have carried the attack. One is local who has been identified as Abid and another is a foreigner. Local militant Abid fired at the trio from a close range with a pistol while the other one was guarding him,” the IGP said.

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“The trio sustained head injuries and succumbed on way to the hospital. We will track both the militants soon and eliminate them,” Kumar declared.

He said the attack was pre-planned as BJP leader had visited his ward and had returned to his home along with all his PSOs. “After entering his house, his PSOs had gone to their room and Bari went to his shop where his father and brother were also present,” the IGP said. “Had there been only two of his PSOs present, they would have killed the attackers.”

He said all the 10 PSOs of the slain BJP leader have been dismissed from their services and taken into custody. “They are being questioned,” IGP said. Asked whether there was need to increase the security of protected persons, he said wherever there is a threat to a political worker, security will be enhanced. “We have already asked the political leaders and workers to come forward if they have threats or are vulnerable to militant attacks,” the IGP said.

Bari Stood for India Like Tiger in Kashmir: Raina

We will definitely take revenge: Koul

Meanwhile BJP’s J&K unit president Ravinder Raina on Thursday termed the killing of Wasim Bari, BJP local leader as “huge loss” for the party and said that he was a “tiger” who stood for India in Kashmir.

He said that this was not being tolerated by Pakistan that is why the militants killed Bari and his family members in what he described as a “cowardly attack.”

Talking to reporters at Bandipora, Raina expressed sympathy with the grief-stricken family members of the BJP leader and said that the nation will never forget the sacrifices of these “tigers” who have been helping the poor for the last many years.

“Pakistani militants did not like these deeds of Wasim and that is why they killed his family.”

He claimed that they will wipe out these Pakistani militants very soon and those who killed the family of Bari will meet the same fate. Raina later gave shoulder to Wasim’s coffin up to the graveyard where the deceased along with his father and younger brother were laid to rest.

Bari, state executive member and former district president BJP along with his father, and younger brother was killed by militants outside their residence in Muslim Abad area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district late last evening.

Jammu Kashmir BJP General Secretary Ashok Koul also condemned the killing of Bari and his family members.

He said that Wasim was working honestly for the party and was one of our best members. “We will definitely take revenge.”

Meanwhile, BJP spokesman, Altaf Thakur while talking to reporters said that BJP has lost a precious member and a brave voice of the people.

He said that several BJP members during the last couple of years have been killed by militants in the valley to suppress the voice of the pure nationalists.

He further added that it was negligence from the police side that how militants opened fire on such a person having 10 security personnel as guards.

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