Separatist leader shot dead in Anantnag

'Police claims militants behind the killing 

Saahil Suhail 

Early Times Report

Srinagar, Nov 20: Unidentified gunmen shot dead a separatist leader in Achabal area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Tuesday. 

Reports said that unidentified gunmen fired upon Hafiz Ullah Mir at his home at Budhra area of Achabal.

He was immediately shifted to district hospital Anantnag where he was declared dead on arrival.

Medical Superintendent district hospital Anantnag, Dr Abdul Majeed Mehrab also confirmed the death of Hafiz Ullah Mir and said that he was 'brought dead'.

Mir, according to reports was affiliated with Hurriyat (G) led by Syed Ali Geelani.

He was also district President of Syed Ali Shah Geelani led Tahreek-e-hurriyat of Anantnag district.

He was recently released by the authorities after serving two year jail term. Mir, according to reports, was frequently being jailed for anti-India activities.

Tahreek-e-hurriyat while condemning the killing blamed 'Indian agencies' for the killing and calimed slain leader was receiving threatening calls from unknown people.

"We had already cautioned authorities and on 12th November had issued statement in which we made it public that slain leader Mir Hafizullah was receiving threatening calls and was faced mental and psychological intimidation from unknown people," party said in a statement.

However, neither party nor the slain Separatist Leader had approached Jammu and Kashmir for anykind of help and support.

Various separatist organization have also condemned the killing.

Jammu and Kashmir police on Tuesday claimed that slain Hurriyat leader was killed by militants.

In a statement issued here a police spokesperson said that militants barged inside the residential house of Hafizullah Mir at Budooda Achabal district Anantnag and fired indiscriminately.

“In this incident Hafizullah sustained critical gun shot wounds and was evacuated to nearby hospital where he succumbed,” he said. Adding his wife also sustained injuries and is undergoing treatment at the nearby hospital.

Police has registered a case under relevant sections of law and initiated investigation in the matter