Srinagar, July 9: Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar on Thursday said that the killing of BJP leader along with father and brother was a “preplanned attack” by the militants who “have been identified”.
BJP leader, a former district president of the party for Bandipora, Sheikh Wasim Bari, his father Bashir Ahmad and brother Umer Bashir killed at their shop, adjacent to their house which is in close vicinity to a police station.
“It seems to be a preplanned attack. Yesterday, after Waseem returned (after visiting his in-laws), he had visited his home first and then his shop. The PSOs went to their rooms. When he visited the shop, there was his father and brother there. One militant came and fired with the pistol from close range,” the IGP told reporters after examining the CCTV footage at the police station which is quite opposite to the slain BJP leader’s house.
“All three of them were hit in vital parts. They were taken to hospital and succumbed to injuries. We express grief. We have identified the militant. He is a member of Lashker-e-Toiba. There is one Pakistani militant and one local militant namely Abid. Police and army will very soon neutralize him,” he said.
Asked whether there was any security lapse, the police officer responded in negative.
“After analyzing the CCTV at the police station, there was no lack of security. Two personnel were from the security wing and eight from district police. At the time of the attack, there were eight personnel at his residence which is more than enough. Even two PSOs would have neutralized the militant. There have been a mistake from our personnel for which action is being taken,” he said, adding, “SP sahib (local superintendent of police) has already suspended them and they are being dismissed from service. They are already under arrest.”
He said while one militant fired from the close range, “others was guiding him from some distance.”
“ As I already said, the attack was a preplanned one. When he (Waseem) went to in-laws house and sit in his vehicle, one militant could be seen watching and when he returned he (the militant) is seen again. There is no need to worry and the militants will be neutralized soon.”
Asked whether there will a review of the security of all the protected persons given the fact that the attack took place in a “fortified area”, the IGP said: “Whoever is having specific threat, all are provided with security cover. He was also having the security. If any political worker, sarpanch, or panch have any specific threat, they are requested to meet concerned SP and they will be provided security.”
Regarding use of any vehicle in the attack, the top police officer said that based on CCTV footage, “it does not seem that militants used any vehicle. They came on foot.”
To a question by a reporter whether there was a need to increase security cover of political leaders since “this is the first such attack (in the northern Kashmir district)”, the IGP said: “See it does not matter whether there is increased or reduced security, what matters is how alert a security jawan (personnel) is and how bravely he fights. Eight men are very enough.”
