Killers of BJP leader Anil Parihar and his brother identified: J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Monday said that those who killed senior BJP leader Anil Parihar and his brother Ajeet in Kishtwar district have been identified and will be brought to book soon.

BJP state secretary Anil Parihar, 52, and his brother, Ajeet, 55, were killed on November 1 by suspected terrorists when they were walking towards their home in Parihar mohalla around 8.40 PM. 

It has been proved that it was an incident of militancy, he said, adding that it "was an act of frustration on the part of militants and Pakistan".

"Those people (killers of BJP senior leader and his brother) have been identified. Soon, results will be before you (media)," Malik told reporters after a function at the Civil Secretariat here.

"Terrorists were frustrated as the local body polls were conducted smoothly; hence, they carried out this murder. The moral of the security forces is high, and no terrorists can disturb the panchayat elections," the J&K Governor said.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the killing and directed it to expedite the investigation and submit its report as early as possible.

An indefinite curfew was imposed in parts of Kishtwar and Doda districts on Thursday following the killing of the Parihar brothers.

The curfew was, however, lifted from Doda district, including the main town and Bhadarwah along with Paddar and Chatroo sub-divisions of Kishtwar district Saturday, but Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) continued to remain in force in these areas as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order.

Panchayat polls in the state are scheduled to begin on November 17. The voting will take place between 7 AM and 2 PM and the entire poll process will be completed by December 17.