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Abdullah's aide shot dead

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah's close associate and ruling National Conference Pulwama district president Ghulam Hassan Bhat was gunned down by militants at Dadsar Tral village yesterday.

The police said several militants, dressed in army uniform, appeared at Bhat's heavily guarded residence yesterday night and told the sentry that they had come to meet the NC leader.

As soon as Bhat came out of his house, the militants, who had in the meantime positioned themselves under the cover of darkness, opened indiscriminate fire from their automatic weapons. As Bhat fell down, his security guards opened fire but the militants escaped.

Bhat was later shifted to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him dead.

Senior police and security force officers along with reinforcements have rushed immediately to the spot and a massive hunt has been mounted to nab the killers.

The murder, considered a serious setback to the NC in south Kashmir, has triggered panic among party workers in the area. "He was a daring worker who openly challenged the militants in the area and had inspired the party workers in the most difficult times. It is a worst setback,'' said a senior NC leader.

Considering his importance and the threats issued by militants, the state government had posted a double guard of the Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police at Bhat's residence besides his personal security officers.

The police said action would be taken against the security guards posted at the NC leader's house.

Senior state ministers rushed to Dadsar Tral this morning.

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