NC leader shot dead in Srinagar, ruling party suspects PDP's hand

Suspected militants wearing masks surfaced in Srinagar on Friday and shot dead a ruling National Conference's (NC) senior worker in the broad day light. The NC, however, raised its finger of suspicion at the opposition parties saying “their role cannot be ruled out”.

Suspected militants wearing masks surfaced in Srinagar on Friday and shot dead a ruling National Conference's (NC) senior worker in the broad day light. The NC, however, raised its finger of suspicion at the opposition parties saying “their role cannot be ruled out”.

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The gunmen alighted from narrow lanes in uptown Srinagar’s Natipora area around 1:35 pm and fired from a close range at Abdul Rehman Ganai, son of Mohammad Shaban.

The victim, who was in his sixties, was on the way to mosque for Friday prayers, according to the police. “Unknown militants fired at him this afternoon in Natipora area. He was immediately shifted to the Bone and Joints Hospital in Srinagar where he breathed his last,” said the police statement.

Hospital sources said Ganai died of two bullets injuries. Early police investigations suggested that Ganai was fired at from a pistol. The suspected militants flee from the spot, leaving Ganai in a pool of blood. The victim was in-charge block president of the NC for Batamaloo constituency. The constituency belongs to state home minister Nasir Aslam Wani.

Sadiq was quick to add: “Why would militants kill someone like this? It’s evident who the beneficiary of the killing is”.

While Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has condemned the attack, the party has sought a high-level probe into the incident.