J-K Law Minister and sitting NC MLA from Lolab, Mushtaq Ahmad Lone, was killed by militants in his constituency in Kupwara district on Wednesday. Five others have also been reportedly killed in the attack.Militants first ambushed Lone's motorcade at around 1300 hrs IST by triggering a landmine blast near Ratnag village, then attacked with small arms fire. Five others, including his two security guards, who were travelling in the vehicle were also reportedly killed in the attack. Lone, who was seriously injured, was taken to the sub-district level hospital where he was operated upon. He, however, succumbed to his injuries. A little-known militant outfit Al-Ariffel has claimed responsibility for the attack. A person identifying himself as a member of the outfit called up a local news agency, Kashmir press service, claiming responsibility. The caller said the outfit has formed a special squad to target candidates contesting the elections. Lone was to address an election gathering at Tikipora village in Lolab Assembly segment, from where he had contested and won in 1996 elections. Lone is the second candidate to be killed by militants in the run-up to the first phase of polls to be held on September 16.ELECTIONS MAY BE COUNTERMANDEDDeputy Chief Electoral Officer Deeraj Gupta said though his office had no confirmation of the incident yet, elections would probably be countermanded if Lone has been killed. "The matter will be referred to the Election Commission which will take a decision. Under the laws, if a candidate belonging to any recognised party is killed, the elections are countermanded," he said. TRAIL OF VIOLENCELone is the second ruling National Conference minister to be killed by militants since Farooq Abdullah government assumed charge in 1996. In 1999, Power Minister Ghulam Hassan Bhat was killed by militants in a land-mine explosion in Anantnag district. Last week, militants killed an Independent candidate from Handwara, Abdul Rehman Sheikh. Several candidates and political activists have been targeted by the militants since the announcement of polls schedule on August 2. Pro-Pakistan Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen had set a deadline of September 10 for all candidates to withdraw from the poll race or face the consequences.Several other militant outfits had also issued similar warnings to the candidates.
