The cops in question were assigned as PSOs to former BJP district chief for Bandipora, Sheikh Waseem Bari who succumbed to fatal gunshot wounds along with his father and brother on Wednesday.

Srinagar, July 9:
The Jammu and Kashmir Police, in unprecedented action against its own, have placed 10 cops in custody following the attack in Bandipora that left a former BJP district president and two of his family members dead on Wednesday.

The policemen in custody were assigned as personal security officers (PSOs) to Sheikh Waseem Bari, Inspector General Vijay Kumar confirmed to India Today TV.

The BJP Yuva Morcha has called a demonstration in front of the Jammu Press Club at 9.15 AM on Thursday to protest against the dastardly attack.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh took to Twitter to announce that Prime Minister Narendra Modi also enquired about the killing of Wasim Bari and his family. “Over the telephone, PM @narendramodi enquired about the gruesome killing of Wasim Bari. He also extended condolences to the family of Wasim,” Dr Singh tweeted.

Fatal attack

According to inputs, the component of ten PSOs was responsible for the safety of Bari and his family. At the time of the attack, the cops were sitting on the first floor of the building that houses the Bari family residence and a shop.

File photo of Sheikh Waseem Bari’s father Bashir Ahmad Sheikh (Photo Credits: Shuja-ul-Haq)

“As the house and shop are together, the PSOs were allowed to sit on the first floor,” an official familiar with the case said. He added that an investigation has been launched into this massive security lapse.

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Former BJP district president for Bandipora, Sheikh Waseem Bari, his father Bashir Ahmad Sheikh and brother Umar Sultan were attacked by militants at around 9 PM on Wednesday as they were sitting in their shop. After militants opened fire, all three men incurred severe gunshot wounds and were shifted to the Bandipora hospital where they succumbed.

Condolences

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh took to Twitter to condemn the attack. He said, “Terribly shaken by this brutal attack by desperately disgruntled terrorists looking for soft targets. #Kashmir, district #Bandipora #BJP President Wasim Bari, his father and brother, no more.

Similarly, BJP leader Ram Madhav also tweeted, “Shocked and saddened by d killing of young BJP leader Wasim Bari and his brother by terrorists in Bandipora. Bari’s father who is also a senior leader was injured. This despite 8 security commandos. Condolences to d family.”

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and New Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah also tweeted, “My condolences to their families in this time of grief. Sadly the violent targeting of mainstream political workers continues unabated.”

“We lost Sheikh Waseem Bari, his father & brother in Bandipora, J&K today in a cowardly attack on them. This is a huge loss for the party,” tweeted BJP national president JP Nadda.