BJP leader, brother killed in suspected terror attack

Anil Parihar
Anil Parihar

Curfew imposed in Kishtwar, Bhaderwah; Army called out

Massive protests break out in town, 2 PSOs of Parihar arrested

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 1: Suspected militants tonight shot dead prominent BJP leader and State secretary of the party, Anil Parihar and his brother Ajit Parihar at Tappal Gali close to their house in Kishtwar town, leading to massive protests and attacks on police station and vehicles by the angry mob after which authorities announced imposition of curfew in the town and surrounding areas and called out Army to maintain law and order.
Both the brothers died on spot as bullets had been fired by the gunmen targeting their heads from a very close range with pistols, sources told the Excelsior. They said the gunmen, stated to be two in numbers, managed to escape from the spot and remained untraced.
The brothers-Anil Parihar, 52 and Ajit Parihar, 55, who was an SFC employee, had closed their stationery shop opposite Court complex in Kishtwar town around 8.30 pm and were heading home at Parihar Mohalla when the two suspected militants, who were already waiting for them at Tappal Gali, fired upon them with pistols from a very close range. The bullets were fired on heads of the two brothers, who died on spot.

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The suspects managed to escape from the spot and remained untraced. They were believed to be fresh recruits in the militancy as there had been reports of new recruitment in the militant cadre in Kishtwar and Doda districts.
Police parties rushed to the spot and shifted the two brothers to District Hospital Kishtwar, where they were declared dead on their arrival.
As the news about killings of Anil Parihar and his brother spread like wild fire in Kishtwar town, large numbers of people came out of their houses and held massive protests shouting slogans against Pakistan and militants and failure of the administration to protect the BJP leaders.
SSP Kishtwar Rajinder Gupta told the Excelsior that Anil Parihar had been allotted two PSOs but they were not accompanying him at the time of killing. He said both the PSOs were traced at their houses around midnight tonight and arrested. The PSOs identified as Om Prakash and Sahil Raina had left for their houses. Police believed that the tragedy could have been averted had the PSOs been accompanying the BJP leader.
Sources said the PSOs were generally leaving for their houses after Parihar used to close the shop. His movement was being monitored and the suspected militants struck at a small lane where he was without PSOs along with his brother.
Police said that the matter of attack is part of investigations. The shots had been fired with pistols from very close range, they said, adding everything was under investigations including possibility of terror attack and efforts were on to identify and nab the killers.
The mobile internet services have been snapped in Kishtwar and Doda districts while speed of mobile internet has been reduced to 2G in rest parts of Jammu region as a precautionary measure.
Agitated people pelted stones on police vehicles and police station to protest the killing of BJP leader and his brother as they said such selective killings have been witnessed in Kishtwar after several years. The killings, they said, indicated revival of militancy in Kishtwar as there had been reports of some fresh recruitment in the militant ranks in Doda and Kishtwar districts.
As repeated appeals by police and civil administration to the mob to disperse didn’t yield results and there were apprehensions of fresh trouble, Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, Angrez Singh Rana ordered imposition of curfew in Kishtwar town and surroundings.
SSP Kishtwar Rajinder Gupta said police and para-military personnel were trying to impose curfew in the town but Army has also been called out. They were expected to move in the town before wee hours of this morning.
SSP Doda Shabir Ahmad Malik said curfew has been imposed in Bhaderwah town of Doda district while prohibitory orders under Section 144 have been ordered in Doda town. People held a protest in Bhaderwah town tonight against the killings of Parihar brothers and later dispersed.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Sanjeev Verma tonight issued detailed advisory to the administration of all 10 districts of Jammu region after the subversive incident in Kishtwar.
Verma told the Excelsior that the Deputy Commissioners of Kishtwar and Doda have been asked to impose curfew with zero tolerance for any breach immediately and put Army on high alert and ready to act mode. He said the DC Ramban has been directed to impose Section 144 in Banihal. He also alerted the district administration of Rajouri and Poonch.
He directed the Deputy Commissioners and the SSPs of all 10 districts of Jammu region to accord top priority to maintain peace and tranquility in their areas.
Anil Parihar, presently the State BJP Secretary, had also served as State Bharatiya Yuva Morcha (BJYM) president and was prominent political personality of the State from Kishtwar district. He also served the BJP in various capacities.
Police said bodies of both the brothers have been kept in the mortuary of District Hospital, Kishtwar, where post-mortem will be performed tomorrow morning.
People held protests at various places across Kishtwar till late tonight denouncing killings of Parihar brothers and immediate identification of the killers and stern action against them.
People said this was after several years that the militants had resorted to selective killings, which signaled revival of militancy in Kishtwar district. They said the militancy should be crushed with an iron hand.

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