Shopkeeper shot dead in Sopore

Four days after the killing of Hurriyat Conference (G) activist Altaf-ur-Rehman Sheikh’s killing, unidentified gunmen on Friday night killed a civilian who was shopkeeper by professional and sympathizer of the Hurriyat faction led by Syed Ali Geelani.

A police official said that unknown gunmen at around 9:00 pm opened fire from point blank range at the activist, Khursheed Ahmad Bhat son of Ghulam Nabi Bhat outside his residence at Bomai.

Bhat received serious head injuries and was immediately shifted to sub-district hospital Sopore, ources said. However, the doctors present there declared him brought dead.

Bhat according to official sources was arrested for some time for his alleged role in stone pelting incidents. He was running a shop in the locality and was president of Traders Federation, Bomai, the sources said.

The Hurriyat conference Monday clarified that Bhat was not its activist even though the amalgam condemned in strong words his killing.

“Although he was not our activist, he was a true sympathizer of freedom movement. We condemn his killing in strong possible words,” Aiyaz Akhbar, spokesman of the amalgam told GNS.

Pertinently, a pharmacist and the activist of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat led by Syed Ali Geelani, Altaf Rehman Sheikh son of Mohammad Yousf Sheikh, was shot dead by unknown gunmen in New Colony area of Sopore on Tuesday.