Srinagar, Feb. 13 (TNS): A prominent face among Kashmir separatists, Muhammad Yusuf Rather alias Yusuf Nadeem, was shot dead by unknown assailant in Jammu and Kashmir’s central district of Budgam on Monday.
The police said that Nadeem, an official of the State’s Power Development Department (PDD), was travelling in a public transport vehicle from Budgam town to Beeru area of the district when a man, who was also on board, shot him dead from point blank range. The driver immediately stopped the vehicle and all other passengers quickly alighted from the vehicle and fled, a witness told the police.
“He was on his way home in Sundipora area of Beeru area in a service Chevrolet Tavera SUV when he was shot dead by an unknown assailant. The driver immediately stopped the vehicle at Charangam along the Beeru-Budgam road and informed the police,” said a police official. Reports said that Nadeem was shot in head and back, resulting in his instant death.
SSP Budgam, Tejinder Singh confirmed the incident and said, “Our people have reached the place.” Nadeem, the police sources said, was a former militant of Hizb-ul-Mumineen, a Shia dominated outfit, and was currently associated with Tahreek-e-Wahdat, a constituent of Syed Ali Shah Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference alliance faction.
Meanwhile, the police said that one of the two persons killed in a road accident in north-western district of Baramulla earlier during the day on Monday was a militant.
