Rajnath expresses shock, pain over killings of BJP leader, brother in J-K

Home Minister Rajnath Singh Thursday expressed shock and pain over the killings of a BJP leader and his brother in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the police will leave no stone unturned to bring perpetrators of the crime to justice.

"Shocked & pained by the killing of J&K State BJP leader Sh. Anil Parihar & his brother. My heart goes out to the bereaved family," he said in a tweet.

The home minister also spoke to K Vijay Kumar, the advisor to the Jammu and Kashmir Governor, and took stock of the incident.

"Spoke to Advisor to J&K Governor, Sh Vijay Kumar regarding the incident. The police will leave no stone unturned to bring the perpetrators to justice," he said.

State secretary of BJP Anil Parihar and his brother Ajeet were returning from their shop in Kishtwar when they were fired upon from close range at a dark, narrow lane leading to their house, the officials said.

They were rushed to a hospital where doctors declared them brought dead, they said.

The Army was called out for maintenance of law and order in Kishtwar town following the killings.

Earlier, the district authorities imposed curfew as the killings triggered protests by residents.

Tension mounted in the town as residents staged protests and manhandled policemen, including senior officials, prompting the authorities to clamp prohibitory orders under CrPC Section 144.

As the situation deteriorated, the Army was called out to maintain law and order, they said.