Former BJP Sarpanch shot dead, tourist couple from Rajasthan injured in back-to-back terror attacks in Kashmir

Srinagar: A former Sarpanch of Bharatiya Janata Party was shot dead and a tourist couple from Rajasthan was injured in two back-to-back terror attacks in south Kashmir on Saturday evening.

Former Sarpanch of BJP Aijaz Ahmad, was shot dead by militants in the Herpora area of Shopian in South Kashmir, officials said. They said that soon after the incident, the area was cordoned off to trace the attackers.

Incharge BJP Media Department Kashmir, Sajid Yousuf Shah while condemn the killing said Aijaz was a brave soldier of the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir.

“The BJP firmly stands with the family of Aijaz Ahmad, who lost his life in this terror attack,” he said.

Earlier, a tourist couple from Jaipur, Rajasthan, was shot and injured by militants in South Kashmir's Anantnag district.

Police said the attack took place at Yannar, Pahalgam, in Anantnag, in which a tourist couple identified as Farha and Tabrez residents were wounded.

In a post on X, police termed it a terror attack.

“Terrorists fired upon and injured a lady, Farha R/O Jaipur, and her spouse, Tabrez, at Yannar, Anantnag. Injured people were evacuated to the hospital for treatment,” Kashmir Police Zone posted on X.

After the attack, a hunt has been launched to trace the attackers.

The back-to-back attacks took place as the campaigning for the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat in north Kashmir ended Saturday evening. The polls in south Kashmir, where the two attacks took place, are scheduled for May 25.

The Peoples Democratic Party candidate from Anantnag, Mehbooba Mufti, said the timing of these attacks is cause for concern.

“While we condemn the attack in Pahalgam today that resulted in injuries to two tourists, followed by another attack on a sarpanch in Hurpora, Shopian, the timing of these attacks given that the South election was delayed without any reason is a cause for concern. Especially keeping in mind the normalcy claims touted by GOI,” Mufti said in a post on X.