J&K MLA Engineer Rashid claims attack by Parivar

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir’s legislator Sheikh Abdur Rashid, better known as Engineer Rashid, was injured in an attack allegedly carried out by Sangh Parivar activists in the State’s Bhaderwah town on Wednesday.

Mr. Rashid who represents Langeat constituency of frontier Kupwara district in the J&K Assembly and also heads regional Awami Ittehad Party is currently on a tour of the State’s Chenab Valley and has addressed a series of public meetings besides interacting with local people especially youth on issues confronting the region.

Reports said that he was returning from such a gathering held at Bhaderwah’s Dak Bangalow when his car was targeted with stones at Dumail-Saran, about two kilometers short of the main town of Bhaderwah also known as ‘Chota Kashmir’. The windshield of the left front window where Mr. Rashid was seated smashed in the attack, causing minor injuries to him and one of his aides. The assailants also poured black paint on the MLA’s car, reports said.

In protest, Mr. Rashid staged a sit-in at nearby Amira Nagar and, as reports last came in, was being persuaded by senior police officials who visited the area immediately after the incident to accept additional security.

Also, dozens of his supporters gathered outside the Bhaderwah Police station demanding that an FIR be registered against the assailants who, they alleged, belonged to BJP and supporting outfits and also RSS and the VHP. Similar protests were also reported from neighbouring Doda town.

Mr. Rashid was in first week of October beaten up by BJP MLAs in the J&K Assembly, days after he hosted a beef party at MLA hostel in Srinagar. Later on October 19, he became target of an ink attack by the activists of radical fringe group ‘Hindu Sena’ in Delhi where he was to address a press conference on the October 8 attack on the Valley truckers.