Mastermind behind RSS leader’s killing in Kishtwar identified, police releases picture

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have identified the terrorist who shot dead RSS leader Chandrakant Sharma in Kishtwar on Tuesday. CCTV footage has helped reveal the identity of the terrorist. Three to four terrorists used an Alto car to carry out the attack, according to the police. The main accused Zahid Hussain Sagar, who used to live near a local school is on run. The police said the efforts are on to nab the attackers. Medical assistant Chandrakant Sharma was working at Kishtwar district hospital when he was attacked. His PSO was also shot dead in the attack.

The personal security officer was killed after the terrorist snatched his weapon in the hospital in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar town. Chandrakant had gone to the local hospital for a check-up, the police said. Narrating the sequence of events, officials said the terrorists barged into the hospital and snatched the PSO's weapon. They attempted to fire at the RSS leader. In the ensuing scuffle, the policeman was shot dead while the RSS leader received minor injuries. Senior police officials had rushed to the scene.

The terrorist was watching his movement. He opened fire on them, resulting in the death of the PSO on the spot and injury to the leader, Kishtwar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shakti Pathak had told news agency PTI. "Curfew has been imposed in the town (as a precautionary measure)," Inspector General (Jammu region) Manish Sinha.

After the firing, the terrorist took away the weapon of the killed PSO identified as Rajinder before fleeing from the spot, he said. Earlier, the police had said that the unidentified gunmen had snatched the rifle of the PSO and shot at the RSS leader. Sharma, along with another civilian, had been airlifted to Jammu for further treatment. Following the attack, protests broke out in Kishtwar town and at a hospital against the government and police.