Jammu

Confirming it was a militant act, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Monday said those involved in the killing of BJP leader Anil Parihar and his brother Ajeet Parihar at Kishtwar had been identified and will be nabbed soon.

The Governor said security agencies were on the right track.

In his interaction with the media on the opening day of the Durbar move here on Monday, the Governor said “terrorists were pressurised to go in for the killing of prominent political personalities to offset the impact of the four-phased peaceful municipal elections in the state.”

“No loss of life was reported in these polls even as there used to be a large number of killings in previous elections.” He said this caused immense frustration to Pakistan and its agents allegedly pressurised the terrorists to kill to spoil the peaceful environment.

“People involved in the Kishtwar incident have been identified and will be caught soon,” he asserted.

The assassination of the BJP leaders by terrorists, he suspected, was an attempt to sabotage the panchayat polls. “But I am sure the rural polls will be held peacefully as the security forces are prepared to meet any challenge. Only weather gods should stay kind to us,” he said, fearing unseasonal snowfall could cause disruption in the higher reaches.