According to police, the militants abducted Mohammad Afzal Dar, brother-in-law of the former union minister, from his house in Deyalgam yesterday night and shot him after dragging him 50 yards away. The deceased was a school teacher.

SSP of Anantnag, Ashkoor Wani told The Indian Express that a group of the Hizbul Mujahideen that is operating in the area is the culprit. "We have already identified the killers and a massive man hunt has been launched to nab them," Wani said.

In another similar incident, the militants kidnapped Ghulam Nabi Dar, brother of the former union minister from Shangus Nowgam on May 29. Police sources said that the family had kept the abduction incident concealed as they were negotiating his release with the militants.

"The family has not formally lodged any FIR, however,the police has taken the cognizance in suo moto," a police officer told J&K Newsline.

According to the SSP, Ghulam Nabi Dar had gone to enquire about the well-being of his relatives in Shangus Nowgam after a lion had attacked and injured some villagers. "The family is properly guarded and a platoon of CRPF has been posted at their residence but he had taken it very easy and had not even bothered to take security with him," the SSP said.

"The security guards posted at their house had no knowledge of the incident," the SSP said.

The former union minister was not available for any comments. Senior police and security force officers today rushed to Anantnag to take first hand stock of the situation. The BSF and the RR units deployed in the area have also been swung into action to rescue Ghulam Nabi Dar from the clutches of the militants, a senior police officer said.

The SSP said that the movement of the militants had increased in the area during the past one week.