Srinagar, March 29: A municipal councillor and his personal security guard were shot dead by militants during a meeting of the urban local body in Sopore town of Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district, police said.
Unidentified gunmen barged into the premises of the Sopore Municipal Council around 1.15 pm and shot at the councillors and security personnel while a meeting of the council was in progress, they added.
Independent councillor Reyaz Ahmad and his personal security guard Shafqat Ahmad were killed on the spot while another councillor Shamsuddin Peer was injured in the attack.
Peer, who suffered a bullet injury on the thigh, has been referred to a hospital here for specialised treatment, officials said.
In a statement, the BJP said it “condemns the killing of its municipal councillor and a police officer by militants.”
Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Zone) Vijay Kumar visited the scene of the attack and later chaired a review meeting with top security officials of the area.
Kumar directed that the four policemen posted on personal security of the protected persons be placed under suspension pending an inquiry into their conduct at the time of the attack.
A police official informed that preliminary investigation indicates that a local militant, Mudasir Pandit of Lashkar-e-Taiba and a foreign terrorist, were involved in the attack.
He said cordon-and-search operations are going on at various locations to nab the assailants. (PTI)
