Family of Ghulam Nabi Patel, who was killed by unidentified gunmen at Rajpora Pulwama on Wednesday, expressed “surprise” over PDP president and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s statement for “disowning” him by calling him a Congress activist.
"He (Gulam Nabi Patel) vigorously campaigned for PDP's senior leader Dr Haseeb Drabu (to see him getting elected to legislative assembly from Rajpora constituency)," said Ali Mohammad, brother Gulam Nabi who was killed by unidentified gunmen at Rajpora on Wednesday afternoon. "It has come as a shock and surprise to us that he has been disowned by PDP and the statement of disowning him has come none other than party president and chief minister of the state Mehbooba Mufti," Ali Mohammad told. Ali Mohammad also stated that it would be premature to blame militants for killing his brother.
He hastily added that a fear investigation would reveal as to who killed his brother. The gunmen fired at Rajpora Chowk upon the vehicle (Scorpio JK01M- 0099) in which Ghulam Nabi Patel was travelling. In the incident, two policemen guarding the activist received bullet wounds. However, another cop present inside the vehicle was unhurt. The injured cops have been identified as Imtiyaz Ahmad Zargar and Bilal Ahmad Mir. Patil, a resident of Dangerpora Shadimarg later succumbed to injuries on the way to hospital.
A police officer confirmed the incident and said that a hunt has been launched to nab the assailants. According to local sources, Patel was associated with Congress and had joined ruling PDP later. Interesting, the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who is also president of PDP, referred to Patel as ‘Congress” activist while condemning his killing. J&K Congress chief G A Mir, on the other hand, called him ‘PDP’ activist. Former Chief Minister and National Conference working president Omar Abdullah criticized the PDP and Congress for what he said disowning Patel, saying: “just call him NC worker so his death is not in vain”.