Curfew in Kishtwar as killing of BJP leader Anil Parihar and brother Ajeet leads to raging protests in J-K

After a senior BJP state secretary Anil Parihar and his brother, Ajeet Parihar, were shot dead by militants in the communally-sensitive Kishtwar on Thursday night, angry civilians have staged protests on Friday against officials and started manhandling senior police personnel. Jammu and Kashmir officials imposed a curfew and called for the Army to control raging protests.

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BJP state secretary Anil Parihar, 52, and his brother Ajeet, 55, were killed when they were returning home from their shop. The assailants fired upon from close range at a dark, narrow lane leading to their house. According to the sources, they were apparently waiting for the brothers to return home and used pistols to target them. As soon as they were rushed to a hospital, the doctor declared them dead.

Immediately after the attack, people started assembling outside the Parihar residence and denied the entry of any senior police officers. The mourners protested against handing over the body to police and even stopped them from collecting evidence from the crime scene, Parihar Mohalla.

Kishtwar district magistrate A S Rana had to request to call out the Army in the town and adjoining areas to take the internal security situation under control. The decision was taken to protect the endangered life and property of citizens of Kishtwar town.

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Police announced the curfew in Kishtwar, Doda and Baderwah, besides imposing prohibitory orders, banning assembly of more than four people in Ramban, Banihal, Poonch, Kathua, Rajouri and upper reaches of Gool Gulabgarh.

Talking about Parihar's political career, he contested the 2008 Assembly Elections on the ticket of Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party and bagged the Kishtwar constituency.