M A I N   N E W S

2 more NC workers killed
Al-Afreen claims responsibility
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 18
In an upsurge of violence in the valley, the militants struck afresh today, killing two workers of the National Conference. With today’s killings, the toll of candidates and political party workers eliminated between September 1 and September 18 has reached 11. Most of those killed belonged to the NC.

The militants targeted NC workers, between 10.30 am and 11.30 am, in the crowded markets of the city, right under the nose of security personnel. Members of the Al-Afreen outfit, especially floated for derailing the poll process, claimed responsibility for the killings. The first attack was on 60-year-old Ali Mohammad Dar, an NC worker, who had resigned from the party about 15 days ago. The resignation was in protest against the non-issuance of ticket to his friend Mohammed Shafi Bhat, who had won on NC ticket from the Amirakadal assembly segment in 1996. After being denied ticket, Shafi joined the Congress.

Dar, resident of Maisoma, had come to Koker Bazar in Lal Chowk at 10.15 am to buy a pen. When he was walking back home, a militant riding a motor cycle fired two shots at him from a distance of 3 ft. Two personnel of the Jammu and Kashmir police told The Tribune that before they could nab the killer, he mixed into the crowd. One of them who saw Dar being shot at from a distance, said: “He was bleeding profusely from his throat but he walked up to me before collapsing.” As he was being taken to hospital, he was talking to the security personnel and trying to describe the killer. He was, declared dead the moment he was taken to the emergency ward.

The Tribune contacted Mushtaq Ahmad, elder son of Dar, who had taken the body to the police control room, at Batmaloo for legal formalities. He said: “My father had been on the hit list for long, but had never been attacked. Who knew the first attack on him was to be the final attack.” Back home at Maisoma, Dar’s wife Bashira and his two daughters were inconsolable. They decried the poll and said these would consume all Kashmiris.”

Even while Dar’s body was being examined, another NC worker’s killing was reported from the busy Rehbab Sahib area of Srinagar. After the militants shot dead Ghulam Rasool Mir, resident of Sehyar, more security was deployed in the area.

11 killed since September 1

Intervening night of September 1 and 2: Militants kidnap Ali Mohd Dar of the NC and shoot him dead at Showl in Anantnag.

Intervening night of September 1 and 2: NC’s Ghulam Hassan Bhat kidnapped from his Bandipora residence. His slaughtered body was found next day.

September 5: PDP worker Peer Mohammed Amin killed in Wanibal.

September 6: Sheikh Abdul Rehman, Independent candidate from Handwara, shot dead in Wadipora. Two others killed.

Intervening night of September 5 and 6: CPM’s Mohammed Ibrahim shot dead at his Kulgam residence.

Intervening night of September 7 and 8: militants killed NC’s Mohi-ud-din Malik at his Handwara residence.

September 10: PDP worker Ghulam Nabi Hakim shot dead near his Pulwama residence.

September 11: Minister of State for Law and NC candidate from Lolab, Mushtaq Ahmad Lone, killed at a public meeting in Lolab.

Intervening night of September 16 and 17: PDP agent Abdul Hamid Parra killed at his Nagebal house.

September 18: Two NC workers shot dead.