Terror outfit Resistance Front owns up to killing of BJP leader in J&K

The Resistance Front (TRF), a new militant outfit floated post-August 5, 2019, has claimed responsibility of the deadly attack which left the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) leader and main face Sheikh Wasim Bari dead along with his two close family members in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Wednesday (July 8).

In a purported statement made late Wednesday night at 11:14 pm, the TRF said, “Political stooges whoever sabotages Kashmir cause with their filthy designs to make/help occupational regime in brutalizing Kashmiris will be dealt with dire consequences.” This TRF statement has been doing rounds on social media since.

Pertinently, the TRF seems to have chosen the death anniversary of a Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander, Burhan Wani, to launch an attack on the BJP leader in Kashmir.

Burhan Wani was killed along with his two associates in south Kashmir’s Bamdoora village in Kokernag area, four year ago on July 8.

The Jammu and Kashmir police, meanwhile, have arrested all 10 Personal Security Officers (PSOs) deployed to provide security to BJP leader Sheikh Wasim Bari, his sibling Sheikh Umer and father Sheikh Bashir. According to J&K Police’s Inspector General (Kashmir Range) Vijay Kumar, all ten PSOs have been suspended from services and arrested as well.

All major political formations in J&K have condemned the killings of the Sheikh family in Bandipora.

Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP) while deploring the political assassination also said that it was important to seek accountability from the government which has “failed in providing security” to the slain members of the Sheikh family.

The Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference led by Sajad Lone also condemned the killing. Party’s spokesperson Adnan Ashraf Mir told The Federal that “killing of BJP leader Wasim along with his father and brother in Bandipora is an unpardonable act of violence which has left an entire family devastated. Our prayers are with them in this hour of grief.”

Omar Abdullah, former chief minister and National Conference’s Vice President, too condemned the killing in strong words.

A former district president of the BJP Sheikh Wasim Bari, his father Bashir Ahmed and his brother Umer Bashir were shot dead on Wednesday when they were at their family shop in Bandipora.

The trio was severely injured in the indiscriminate firing and was admitted to hospital but all succumbed to their injuries.