SRINAGAR: Twenty hours after the ex-sarpanch of ruling PDP was shot dead by militants and a militant of Hizbul Mujahideen was killed in scuffle with his family members, a mob on Tuesday set on fire the house of the slain PDP worker in south Kashmir.
Mohammed Ramzan Sheikh, 50, a former sarpanch, was killed by militants at his house at Humhuna, Imam Sahib area in south Kashmir’s Shopian district last evening.
A Hizb militant Showkat Ahmed Falahi, who was among the three assailants, was killed in the scuffle with the family members of Sheikh, who offered them resistance.
Showkat, who had joined the militancy in October last year, was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard in Tranz area of Shopian district today . Large number of people attended his funeral prayers amidst chanting of pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.
Police sources said after the militant’s body was buried, a mob comprising youth chanting anti-India and pro-freedom slogans marched towards the residence of slain PDP worker and set it on fire at around 4 pm.
The house was damaged in the blaze.
Immediately after the PDP worker’s house was set on fire, the police and army men rushed to the area to rescue the family members of the slain ex-sarpanch.
J&K Director General of Police (DGP) S P Vaid while confirming the incident said a mob on the instigation of militants attacked the house of ex sarpanch, who was killed by militants last night.
He said family members were rescued by the police and security forces.
“Strong action under law is being taken against the perpetrators of the crime,” the DGP said.
A police official said police has registered a case and launched investigation to nab the people involved in setting afire the house of the PDP worker.
Meanwhile, J&K Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti strongly condemned the killing of former Sarpanch and burning of his house.
“Such dastardly acts cannot justify or achieve any political goals,” she said.
PDP youth wing leader Waheed ur Rehman Parra also condemned the killing of party worker.
“It is a cowardly attack and an attack on humanity. The killing of Sheikh, a grass root worker of PDP, will do no good,” he said.