J-K guv orders probe into political activists' killings, parties train gun on chief secy

The killing of a BJP leader in south Kashmir has sparked off a controversy with Governor Satya Pal Malik Sunday ordering an inquiry headed by state chief secretary B V R Subrahmanyam to "identify lapses" while political parties accusing the top bureaucrat of creating a chaotic situation by withdrawing security of political activists.

Condoling the death of Gul Mohammed Mir, 57, the BJP leader who unsuccessfully contested on the party ticket in 2008 and 2014 assembly elections from Dooru in South Kashmir, Malik asked the chief secretary to identify any lapses on part of the security agencies in ensuring security of political activists, an official spokesman said.

The governor has called for an emergency meeting on Monday, when government offices will reopen in summer capital of Srinagar after the bi-annual 'Darbar move', during which he will review the safety and security aspects of all political leaders and sarpanches in the state, he said.

Malik directed the chief secretary to get an inquiry conducted into the killings of political leaders belonging to various parties in the state in the last few months.

Militants, besides fighting the security forces, target political or social activists in the state. The ultras killed a senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) functionary Chanderkant Sharma and his Personal Security Officer (PSO) Rajinder Kumar at the District Hospital in Kishtwar on April 9. Similarly, a panch, Abdul Majeed Dar, from Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir was shot dead by militants at his residence on April 4.

On March 14, a political worker associated with the National Conference (NC) -- Mohammad Ismail Wani -- was shot at and injured by suspected militants in Anantnag district.

On March 30, suspected militants shot dead social activist Arjumand Majid Bhat in Baramulla district