Terrorists gun down NC leader in Sopore

Traders call for shutdown as killing evokes condemnation from all corners

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, May 23: Unidentified gunmen, widely believed to be separatist militants, today struck their heaviest blow of the last over two years to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s National Conference (NC) when they shot dead party’s senior leader and President of Traders Federation, Ghulam Nabi Khan, in the north Kashmir apple town of Sopore, in broad daylight. Khan’s assassination has evoked widespread condemnation from all shades of opinion as the traders have called for a shutdown in protest on Monday.


DIG North Kashmir, Abdul Qayoom Manhas, told Early Times that the senior NC leader and President of Traders Federation, Sopore, Ghulam Nabi Khan S/o Abdul Rahim Khan R/o New Colony, Sopore, was walking in Main Chowk of Sopore when an unidentified youth appeared right in front of him and fired upon him pistol shots at around 1115 hours today. Khan was accurately hit in his forehead. Even as he fell in a pool of blood, local traders and Police rushed him to hospital where doctors declared him ‘brought dead’.

DIG said that the hitman was still unidentified but Police were optimistic about his identification and arrest with tremendous local civilian support. He said that Police had launched an investigation with tracking the movement and communication of two formidable militant outfits, namely Harkatul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba, who were remarkably active in Sopore area. Khan’s death has come after killing of nearly 20 civilians, militants and Police and security forces personnel in Sopore area in the last 6 months.

55-year-old Ghulam Nabi Khan was a senior mainstream leader who had remained associated with NC for the last 30 years. In pre-1990 halcyon period, Khan had served as District President of NC’s youth wing before his elevation to the senior position of Vice President for Baramulla district. Alongwith Haji Mohammad Ashraf of rural Sopore, Khan was a strong contender for NC’s ticket in October 2008 Assembly elections. However, Haji got the ticket as the party leadership apprehended boycott in the apple town. While Haji enjoyed substantial support in rural areas of Sopore, Khan had a strong base in the township.

After remaining in oblivion for fear of reprisal from militants for several years, Khan had shot into prominence when he defeated Jamaat-e-Islami and Syed Ali Shah Geelani-supported rival, Noor-ud-din Daandh, a retired Assistant Commissioner, in the traders federation elections in 2005-06. While working as President of Traders Federation Sopore, Khan had continued his activities as a senior NC leader. He was a widely popular social worker and had never accepted Police protection.

Two months ago, Khan had issued a hard-hitting statement against the people enforcing shutdown after shutdown and causing heavy damage to the business in Sopore. He had condemned ‘anarchical stone pelting on every second day’ and sought peoples’ support to his resolve of defying “unwarranted shutdowns and stone pelting”. His death has come in days of the assassination of a cable operator and Geelani supporter, Ashiq Hussain Khan, followed by reported elimination of the most dreaded Harkatul Mujahideen militant, Basharat Saleem, by his colleagues in Janwari forest area of Sopore.

Unlike almost all other killings suspected or believed to be done by militants, Khan’s assassination evoked widespread protest and condemnation in Sopore. Over 3,000 residents of Sopore--- including traders, government officials, intellectuals, religious and social activists---participated in his funeral procession and Namaaz-e-Janazaah at Iqbal
Market. Participants shouted “Khan Sahab amar rahe”, “Qatiloon kau pesh karo” and “Islam zindabaad”. According to those present in the procession, someone also shouted “Ham kya chahte…” but others asked him not to use this popular freedom slogan. Hundreds of grief-stricken people later participated in a condolence meeting at his New Colony residence.

Traders Federation Sopore condemned Khan’s killing and called upon the residents of Sopore and entire business community to observe total shutdown on Monday to register their protest.

Those who participated in Khan’s condolence meeting, condemned the assassination and paid him rich tributes included Speaker of J&K Legislative Assembly, Mohammad Akbar Lone, Minister of Rural Development, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister of State for Urban Development, Nasir Aslam Wani, Minister of State for Health and PWD, Javed Ahmed Dar, senior NC leader and MLA Handwara, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, NC’s MLA from Sopore, Haji Mohammad Ashraf, and NC’s Kashmir Province President Ali Mohammad Dar.

Witnessing unprecedented condemnation from almost all corners, both factions of the separatist Hurriyat Conference also condemned Khan’s assassination. While Geelani sought to create an impression that a “neo-Ikhwani group” of gunmen could be behind the killing, spokesman of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq-led faction of the Hurriyat said that killing of people on the basis of political indifferences was “condemnable and unacceptable” and thus “harmful to the freedom movement”.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described Khan as a sincere and popular human being and condemned his killing. He said that Mr Khan would be remembered for his great contribution in uniting various traders’ federations and maintaining harmony among various sections of the society. Calling the assassination as a barbaric act, Omar said that the forces not happy with peace and tranquility of the State had an ugly agenda to target the popular personalities like Mr Khan. He said the mourning of people of the area and condemnation of such cowardly act by large number of population was a clear indication of the fact that the people were no more ready to remain silent spectators to such acts of violence. They had, accordingly, started expressing their opinion against such brutal killings without any fear. He hoped that all who believed in human rights would unanimously condemn today’s brutal killing. Praying for peace for the departed soul, Chief Minister expressed his heart-felt sympathies with the bereaved family.

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