Jammu and Kashmir BJP state secretary Anil Parihar was on Thursday night shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Kisthwar district.

Jammu and Kashmir BJP state secretary Anil Parihar was on Thursday night shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Kisthwar district.

Parihar and his brother Ajeet were returning from their shop in Kishtwar when they were fired upon from close range at a dark, narrow lane leading to their house, the officials said.

The assailants were apparently waiting for the brothers to return home and used pistols to target them, they said.

They were rushed to a hospital where doctors declared them brought dead, they said.

Divisional Commissioner (Jammu) Sanjeev Verma said that police are investigating the matter.

BJP state general secretary Ashok Kaul condemned the attack. This is the first attack on any political leader in the Jammu region in past several years.

Curfew has also been imposed in Kishtwar.

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah expressed grief over Parihar's death.

Very sad news. My condolences to Anil & Ajit Parihar’s family & colleagues. May their souls rest in peace. https://t.co/r6PkFnnvKv — Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) November 1, 2018

With inputs from Press Trust of India