Iftikhar Misgar has announced his decision of resigning as National Conference leader in Anantnag.
Highlights
- Iftikhar Misgar announced move and joined protesters raising slogans
- National Conference sources say he was threatened, feared for his life
- Attacks on politicians have increased since killing of Burhan Wani
Amid the unrest in the Kashmir valley, National Conference leader Iftikhar Misgar has quit the party and joined the separatist movement in the state.
National Conference (NC) sources said Mr Misgar feared for his life and the safety of his family as his house was attacked.
He announced his decision in Anantnag town in the evening and joined a street protest raising slogans.
Mr Misgar, who had lost to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in the June bypoll, had also fought and lost the 2014 assembly elections against her father, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, in 2014 from the same constituency.
According to sources in the NC, Mr Misgar joined the separatists out of fear for the safety of his family after his house was attacked.
Locals however refuted the claim.
Attacks on politicians have increased in recent days since the killing of 22-year-old terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8 that triggered protests across Kashmir.
Earlier, the house of a Peoples Democratic Party legislator was set afire at Kojernag while another was injured during protests by crowds throwing rocks.
Nearly 50 people have died and around 3,000 injured in the protests that have raged across the valley for weeks.