NEW DELHI: BJP’s J&K state secretary Anil Parihar was possibly killed in Kishtwar as part of a “desperate” attempt by Kashmiri militants, suspected to be from Hizbul Mujahideen, to unleash an impactful attack in the otherwise calm district after having failed to strike in Kashmir due to the tighter security arrangements there for panchayat polls, according to sources in the Central security establishment.
Intelligence officials said that while the assailants of Parihar and his brother were still being identified and traced, the modus operandi and weapons used in the attack point to the involvement of local militants, who were possibly assisted and facilitated by overground workers.
“Preliminary enquiry suggests that 6-7 Hizbul militants had been camping in Kishtwar for past few days. It is a matter of investigation whether they were in Kishtwar to escape the pressure they may be facing in Kashmir due to higher surveillance and deployment of security forces there, or if they had come on a specific mission to kill Parihar. While we are adequately convinced that it was a militant attack and not borne out of any personal vendetta, we are still trying to establish the motive that could be anything from targetting a senior BJP leader to an attempt to divert focus of security forces from Kashmir region to creating a fear psychosis ahead of panchayat polls in J&K,” said an officer.
The officer hinted at the possibility of Hizbul Mujahideen, facing pressure from its Pakistan-based masters and financiers to unleash a big attack to upset civil/panchayat polls in Kashmir, choosing targets in areas like ‘Kishtwar’ that are not the main focus of security forces deployed in the state.
A senior BJP leader told TOI that the people of Kishtwar also suspected the involvement of local militants from Hizbul Mujahideen in the fatal attack on Parihar. “It is possible that this was a targetted attack to create fear psychosis in the minds of candidates and voters ahead of panchayat polls. Kishtwar may have been chosen in a bid open another front, what with the current focus of counter-terror grid forces being on Kashmir. It is also possible that this was a selective killing meant to spark off communal tension in Kishtwar, where Hindus and Muslims are equally distributed,” said the leader. (TOI)
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