J&K BJP state secretary Anil Parihar, brother shot dead in Kishtwar

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir BJP state secretary Anil Parihar and his brother have been shot dead by unidentified assailants in the state's Kishtwar district on Thursday. The incident happened at around 8 pm.

Anil died on the spot while his brother Ajeet Parihar, who was in a critical state following the attack, later succumbed to injuries. Media reports suggest that the BJP leader and his brother were shot from a point-blank pistol.

Confirming the incident, BJP state president Ravinder Raina said, "BJP J&K secretary Anil Parihar and his brother were shot by terrorists in Kishtwar around 8 pm today. They were taken to the hospital immediately where they succumbed to injury."

BJP J&K secretary Anil Parihar and his brother were shot by terrorists in Kishtwar around 8 pm today. They were taken to hospital immediately where they succumbed to injury: BJP State President Ravinder Raina. #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/BoPuJRzfm2 — ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2018

The duo was returning from their shop in Kishtwar when they were fired upon from close range at a dark, narrow lane leading to their house, officials said. The assailants were apparently waiting for the brothers to return home and used pistols to target them, they added. 

The Parihar brothers were rushed to a hospital where doctors declared them brought dead, officials said.

Curfew has been imposed in Kishtwar keeping in view the prevailing situation due to the assassination of the BJP leader and his brother.

Divisional Commissioner (Jammu) Sanjeev Verma said that police are investigating the matter.

BJP state general secretary Ashok Kaul condemned the attack. This is the first attack on any political leader in the Jammu region in the past several years.

(With inputs from PTI)