SRINAGAR: Former legislator and BJP leader Faqeer Mohammad Khan allegedly died by suicide on Thursday, shooting himself in his government quarters in Tulsi Bagh, Srinagar.
Khan, who had contested the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections from Gurez on a BJP ticket, was found dead at the residence. The reason behind his extreme step remains unknown.
A former independent MLA, Khan was elected to the J&K Assembly in 1996. He later joined the BJP ahead of the 2024 polls and contested the elections but lost to NC’s Nazir Ahmed Gurezi.
Expressing grief over his demise, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, "Deeply saddened by the passing of former legislator Faqeer Mohd Khan. He was a true grassroots leader. My heartfelt condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace."
The J&K Assembly also observed a two-minute silence in his honour.
(If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.)