Suspected freedom fighters shot dead a popular ruling party politician on Tuesday in Indian occupied Kashmir while occupation soldiers killed three freedom fighters, police said. Ghulam Nabi Ganai, regional president of the governing Peoples' Democratic Party, was gunned down by freedom fighters in Kulgam town, 70 kilometres, south of occupied Srinagar, as he returned from praying at a mosque.
"Ganai was returning home after offering morning prayers in a mosque when freedom fighters shot him dead," a police spokesman said, adding he was a "very popular" local politician.
Occupation troops, meanwhile, shot dead three freedom fighters in two clashes in snowbound southern Doda and northern Baramulla districts on Tuesday, officials said.
Army spokesman D.K. Badola said papers found on bodies of two freedom fighters showed they belonged to the region's main freedom fighter group.
No group has claimed responsibility for Ganai's death.