J-K political parties slam celebratory fire by newly elected PDP MLA

Leader across the political spectrum in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday slammed the newly elected People's Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Mohammad Ashraf Mir for firing an AK-47 in celebrating his victory in the recently concluded assembly elections.

Mir celebrated his victory over former chief minister Omar Abdullah in the Sonawal constituency by firing the gun in the air when his supporters greeted him. An amateur video footage shows him firing several rounds from the automatic rifle after poll results were declared on December 23.

The video has gone viral on several social networking sites.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Nirmal Singh condemned his act and said such actions needed to be stopped.

"Such things are wrong and should not happen. Everyone feels happy after winning and wants to enjoy but there should be a proper way," said Singh.

Congress leader Jai Prakash Agarwal urged the authorities to take legal action against the legislator.

"There should be legal obligations on anybody indulging in such acts. The law should take its own course in this incident and should not guard anybody," said Agarwal.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party chairman Bhim Singh claimed that such incidents were not new to the Valley, adding that the region has been witnessing lawlessness for the past 50 years.

"There has been no law and order, there has been no security for a common man in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the Valley. That is why a newly elected legislator has used an official gun to celebrate his victory," he said.

Mir defeated Omar from Sonawar assembly segment by a margin of over 4,700 votes, becoming the first politician in Jammu and Kashmir to register a victory over an incumbent chief minister.