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Ex-Kashmir MLA found dead of ‘suicide’ was central to BJP’s plans in the Valley

On Thursday, 62-year-old Khan allegedly shot himself dead in Srinagar’s Tulsi Bagh, a security complex housing bureaucrats and former legislators.

Faqir Mohammad Khan had won from Gurez for the first time as an Independent in 1996. (Photo: MyNeta)

In September last year, amidst the Jammu and Kashmir elections, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh campaigned for the BJP’s Faqir Mohammad Khan in the Gurez seat. The BJP went all out for Khan as he seemed like the party’s only chance to secure a seat in the Valley. Khan eventually lost to the National Conference (NC) candidate, but by only over 1,100 votes.

On Thursday, 62-year-old Khan allegedly shot himself dead in Srinagar’s Tulsi Bagh, a security complex housing bureaucrats and former legislators. Security officials said he shot himself with a service weapon, and a probe is on into possible reasons.

Khan had won from Gurez for the first time as an Independent in 1996. He contested in 2002 again from Gurez, but lost to the NC’s Nazir Khan (Gurezi). Khan went on to join the Congress and was fielded on the party’s ticket in 2008 and 2014. Candidates of the NC defeated him both times.

In 2020, Khan joined the BJP. When Assembly elections were held in J&K last year after a gap of 10 years, the BJP fielded Khan from Gurez. Given the narrow margins of Gurez’s defeat from the seat over the years, the party’s hope was that a concerted push by it could help him win, marking a big psychological boost for it.

During the campaign, Khan’s big pitch was promising employment in Gurez, which is a remote tourist destination.

While Khan’s loss from Gurez meant the BJP remained without an Assembly seat from Kashmir, it got a vote share of 5.8% across the 19 seats it contested. In 2014, when the BJP contested 33 seats in Kashmir, and also lost deposits in all but one seat, the BJP got 2.5% of the votes across the constituencies it had a candidate in.

Offering his condolences to Khan’s well-wishers and family, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said the incident was an “extremely sad occasion”.

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“Faqeer Mohammad Khan’s contribution to the development of Gurez is immense and he touched and improved thousands of lives. On this extremely sad occasion, I extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends and followers. I pray for his soul,” he said.

J&K BJP president Sunil Sharma termed Khan’s death a “loss for party and society” and emphasised that Khan had dedicated his life to public service, “leaving an indelible mark on the state’s politics”.