OGW-turned-BJP worker arrested after brandishing pistol at a patrolling party

KULGAM — 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 J-K Police. They, after brandishing pistol, tried to escape. However, they were arrested soon afterwards.

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 (OGW) and several police cases 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 the 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.