Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Bandipora leader, Sheikh Waseem Bari, his father and his brother were on Wednesday shot dead by the unidentified gunmen outside their residence in Muslimabad area of Bandipora district.
Bari, his father Bashir Ahmed and brother Umar Bari were shot at by the suspected militants outside their residence in Bandipora.
The residence of Bari’s is located just opposite of Bandipora Police Station. Kashmir zone police on its twitter handle wrote: “Militants upon BJP worker Wasim Bari at Bandipora. During indiscriminate firing Wasim Bari, his father Bashir Ahmad and his brother Umer Bashir got injured and shifted to hospital but unfortunately all the three succumbed to their injuries.”
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Bandipora, Basheer Ahmad Khan said that three persons were brought to the hospital at around 08: 45 pm and all the three were declared brought dead. “The trio had received bullets in their heads that caused their death,” he said.
A senior police officer said that they visited the spot and the entire area has been cordoned off. “The incident happened outside the house of Waseem Bari where his father and brother Umar were sitting together,” the officer said, adding that a case has been lodged and investigations taken up.
Following the attack, all the PSOs of Bari have been arrested for questioning.
A senior police official said that ten PSOs of Bari have been arrested for questioning. “At the time of attack, the cops were sitting in the first floor of the building that houses the Bari family’s residence and the shop,” he said.
As per the locals, only two members of the family are now left, which are slain Bari’s wife and sister.
MoS PMO, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a tweet said that Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has extended condolences to the bereaved family.
"Over the telephone, PM @narendramodi enquired about the gruesome killing of Wasim Bari. He also extended condolences to the family of Wasim," Singh tweeted.
Many political leaders including central as well as the local have expressed anguish and shock over the killing of Bari, his brother and father. They also expressed heartfelt condolences with the bereaved family.
Meanwhile, police said at about 08:45 PM, militants fired indiscriminately upon a BJP leader and his family members outside their shops, residence in Muslimabad area of Bandipora.
“In this incident, BJP leader identified as Wasim Bari, his father Bashir Ahmad and his brother Umer Bashir got seriously injured. All the three injured persons were shifted to hospital but unfortunately they succumbed to their injuries,” police said.
Pertinently, the deceased was a protected person and 10 policemen were deployed for his security but none was kept along by him at the time of incident.
Moreover, Police said that it has registered a case in this regard under relevant sections of law. “Investigation is in progress and officers continue to work to establish the full circumstances of this incident besides why he was without any security at the time of incident. The men deployed for his security are being detained for negligence under police act. Area has been cordoned and search in the area is going on,” police said.