J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti, NC, CPI(M) Condemn Killing of PDP Leader Abdul Gani

Srinagar: Cutting across party lines, the mainstream leaders of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday condemned the alleged killing of ruling PDP district president Abdul Gani Dar by militants in Pulwama district of the state.

"Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has strongly condemned the killing of Abdul Gani Dar, a prominent lawyer and social worker of Pulwama district," an official spokesman said.

He said in her condolence message, the Chief Minister said Dar was a selfless worker who lived and died for the people of his area.

Gani was shot dead allegedly by militants in Pinglena area of Pulwama district, 31 kms from here, this afternoon.

Conveying her sympathies with the bereaved family, the Chief Minister has directed the police to identify the killers and unearth motives behind his killing, he added.

Opposition National Conference also condemned Dar's killing.

"We express solidarity with Dar Sahab's family and express our grief at this tragic incident. May God give the family the strength to bear this loss," the state spokesman of National Conference said in a statement.

He said Dar's killing was yet another reflection of the alarming state of affairs in the state, which he claimed has plunged into total chaos, uncertainty and turmoil due to the PDP-BJP government.

The PDP-BJP government and especially Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti should acknowledge their shameful role in bringing Jammu and Kashmir to this situation and take moral responsibility for the continuously deteriorating situation in the state, the spokesman said.

"While Mehbooba Mufti goes around begging from office to office in New Delhi for her government to be saved, lives are being lost in Kashmir and alienation is at an all time high. She should introspect and resign without any further delay," he said.

Condemning Dar's killing, senior CPI(M) leader and MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami termed the incident as a "heinous and barbaric act".

Tarigami said the society must come out and express itself against such brutal acts of violence.

"Violence in all its manifestations is condemnable as violence begets violence. These incidents of brutality are not acceptable to any civilized society, he said.

State Congress unit while condemning Dar's killing said the deceased was a good human being, who was committed to the cause of serving people and remained on the path of honesty and truthfulness all along his life.

"The killing of Dar is an irreparable loss," a spokesman of the Congress said.