A mainstream political activist was shot dead while his two unarmed guards suffered injuries after the unknown gunmen carried out an attack on them at Rajpora in south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Wednesday.Official sources told news agency GNS that the gunmen fired upon the vehicle (Scorpio JK01M- 0099) of the mainstream worker namely Ghulam Nabi Patel at Rajpora Chowk.In the incident, two policemen guarding the activist received bullet wounds.However, another cop present inside the vehicle was unhurt.The injured cops have been identified as Imtiyaz Ahmad Zargar and Bilal Ahmad Mir.Patil, a resident of Dangerpora Shadimarg later succumbed to injuries on the way to hospital.A police officer confirmed the incident and said that a hunt has been launched to nab the assailants.According to local sources, Patel was associated with Congress and had joined ruling PDP later. Interesting, the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who is also president of PDP, referred to Patel as ‘Congress” activist while condemning his killing.
J&K Congress chief G A Mir, on the other hand, called him ‘PDP’ activist.Echoing Mir Congress District President Pulwama Umar Jan told GNS that Patel had joined PDP in 2014 at Gupkar in presence former chief minister and party patron late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed."Now see the height. PDP does not own their men," Umar said and "condemned" PDP for disowning Patel. He also clarified that Patel was a former worker of the Congress but had no allegiance with Congress party.He said that Patel was also associated with a party led by Dranksha Andrabi who was recently awarded by PDP led government and is also a member of Party's coalition partner BJP.Former Chief Minister and National Conference working president Omar Abdullah criticized the PDP and Congress for what he said disowning Patel, saying: “just call him NC worker so his death is not in vain”. (GNS)