BJP sarpanch shot dead in Kashmir's Kulgam district

BJP leader and sarpanch Sajad Ahmad Khanday was shot dead by terrorists near his home in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Thursday (Aug 6), police said.

The terrorists, who appeared to have studied the area closely, fired at him from close range at Vessu in Qazigund area, 60 km from Srinagar. Sajad Lhanday was the BJP vice president of Kulgam district.

Khanday was immediately rushed to a hospital in nearby Anantnag district where he was declared brought dead.

The incident comes less than 48 hours after a BJP-affiliated panchayat member, Arif Ahmad Khan, was shot at in Kulgam district. He is recovering from his injuries in hospital.

Earlier in July, in one of the most deadliest attacks, suspected militants shot a former district president of BJP, Sheikh Wasim Bari along with his father and brother in Bandipore. A new militant outfit which was floated post-August 5, 2019, The Resistance Front claimed responsibility for the deadly attack.