Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar, July 9: Terming killings of Bharatiya Janata Party leader and his other family members a heinous crime, Director General of police (DGP) Dilbag Singh Thursday said that a massive manhunt has been launched to track down the killers
“The killing of BJP leader Waseem Bari and his father and brother is a heinous crime and has been taken very seriously. Waseem was a very vocal leader, very active and always on ground doing his political activity,” the DGP told KINS.
The DGP said that Waseem was out of his house and when he returned, his Personal Security Officers (PSOs) went to their room to relax, which they should not have done. “Waseem went to his shop-cum residence where his father and brother were present. The militant who has been identified as Abid Haqani with a silencer fitted pistol fired at the trio which resulted in their killing while another foreign militant was also part of the act, who has been identified as well,” DGP Singh said.
He said that the entire security apparatus in the district is on toes and a massive manhunt has been launched to track down the killers of Waseem and his family members. “The people who are part of the political system and are carrying out political activities doesn’t suit Pakistan and militants. Though a large number of militants who were involved in the killing of civilians and political workers, have been killed already, we will get the killers of Waseem very soon,” he said.
He said the killing of Waseem coincided with the fourth death anniversary of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani and all precautions were taken by the security forces to foil any untoward incident. “Unfortunately, militants chose the evening time when security forces had already withdrawn from the area,” DGP said.
On whether there was a security lapse, he said Kashmir is a place where militants are keeping a gun with them and that there may be certain kinds of loopholes and that were because of “our own limitations.”
“My IG and DIG have already visited the site of the incident. The SSP Bandipora has already suspended all 10 PSOs of the slain BJP leader for laxity in their duty. They have been arrested as well,” he added.
