Sopore bleeds again as militants shoot shopkeeper
15 Jun 2015 6:50 AM IST
Mehraj-<g data-gr-id="27">ud</g>-din Bhat, who ran a poultry shop, was shot dead outside his shop-cum-residence at <g data-gr-id="28">Badamibagh,</g> while he was selling chicken to a customer, police said.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants came in a van and called aloud his name. As Bhat turned towards
them, the militants fired five rounds at close range. Bhat was rushed to the District Hospital where he was declared brought dead.
Though no militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the killing, it is widely believed that Nazarwala faction is behind the recent incidents of eliminating people who have been either critical of the gun culture or have abandoned militant ranks.
Bhat had joined the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and surrendered in late 1990s. After serving a prison term, he joined his family business.
Bhat's wife and two daughters, aged 12 and nine years, are in a state of shock.
Local residents talk in hushed tones about followers of Al-<g data-gr-id="33">Hadees</g> and <g data-gr-id="34">Hanfi</g> sects of Islam being targeted in the recent attacks that have taken place in Sopore, around 52 km from Srinagar.
The town saw gunning down of another shopkeeper on Friday <g data-gr-id="31">night,</g> while a government employee – who was an activist of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat – was killed on Tuesday.
Fear is palpable with fresh diktats emerging on the streets frequently these days with a hand-written poster claiming to be from J&K Tehrek-e-Taliban, directing people not to watch TV, consume liquor or allow movement of women without veil. The diktats bear a striking similarity with those imposed by the Taliban in Afghanistan and ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
Police are hot on the trail of Nazarwala, who heads the Hizb group, which is understood to have turned rogue and is suspected to have carried out these killings.
Authorities scupper Hurriyat seminar plans
Authorities have <g data-gr-id="58">foiled</g> hardline Hurriyat Conference's plans of holding a seminar today by placing several top leaders, including the amalgam's chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, under house arrest. "The residence of Geelani has been converted into an unofficial jail. No one is allowed to enter or leave the premises," an aide of Geelani said. He said while Geelani is under house arrest since last week, Hurriyat spokesperson Md Ashraf <g data-gr-id="59">Sehrai</g>, Ayaz Akbar and Raja <g data-gr-id="60">Mehraj</g>-<g data-gr-id="61">ud</g>-din were placed under house arrest on Saturday.
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