‘Not affiliated with BJP, Says Altaf Thakur
Kulgam, Aug 19, KNT: A militant sympathizer turned BJP worker was arrested by police after he along with his associate brandished his pistol at a patrolling party when they asked him to stop.
The incident occurred in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
The duo was on a motorcycle (PB-H-1118) and were coming from Khudwani when they were stopped by a joint patrol party of Army’s 1 Rashtriya Rifles and the police.
They after brandishing pistol tried to escape, however, were arrested.
Police identified them as BJP Sarpanch Aqib Shafi Badder and his friend Muhammed Amin Hajam, a resident of Anantnag.
“A pistol, two magazines and 12 rounds were recovered from the duo,” police said.
Police sources said that BJP Sarpanch Aqib Shafi Badder was a former Over Ground Worker and several police cased stand registered against him on charges of stone-pelting.
He had also sustained pellet injuries in his left eye during a protest in past.
Meanwhile, BJP Spokesperson Altaf Thakur told news agency Kashmir News Trust that arrested Sarpanch was not affiliated with BJP.
“Sarpanch elections were contested on non-political basis and he didn’t contest on the ticket of BJP. He, however, participated in some of the rallies of BJP but we disown him,” Thakur said. (KNT)
