PDP leader shot dead in Pulwama

Shabir Ahmad

SRINAGAR: A ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) leader and district president Pulwama, Abdul Ghani Dar was shot dead by suspected terrorists at south Kashmir's Pinglan area of Pulwama district on Monday.
Police said that Advocate Abdul Ghani Dar, alias Gani Vakil, was driving a car when two to three militants intercepted him and fired at him from a close range.
Gani was shot at by the militants in Pinglena area of Pulwama district, 31 km from Srinagar, this afternoon, a police official said.
The PDP leader was shot at three times from a close range with an AK assault rifle, he said, adding two bullets hit him in the chest and one in the shoulder.
“He was critically wounded and rushed to Pulwama hospital where from he was shifted to SMHS. He succumbed in SMHS,” a police officer said, adding that the terrorists fled in a vehicle after carrying out the attack.
A massive operation has been launched to nab the terrorists involved in the attack.
The two policemen in civvies escorting Dar were not carrying weapons. The two are being questioned by the police.
Dar, a noted lawyer from Pulwama, had contested as a Congress candidate in 2008 Assembly elections and later joined the PDP in 2014.
No militant group had claimed responsibility for the killing till the filing of this report.
"Gani was heading towards Srinagar when suspected terrorists opened fire on him between Pahoo and Pinglan villages,"a senior police official said.
"He was brought dead," Medical Superintendent SMHS hospital, Srinagar, Dr Nazir Chaudhary said.
In last 10 days, at least three political activists have been killed in south Kashmir’s Pulwama and Shopian districts.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) had deferred by-polls for the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency till May 25 as the situation was not conducive for polls. Pulwama is part of the Anantnag seat.