Srinagar: Newly elected regional Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Mohammad Ashraf Mir has stoked a controversy after a video surfaced showing him firing several rounds from an AK-47 assault rifle after he defeated Omar Abdullah, in Sonawar on December 23.
The video, which has gone viral, shows the newly elected PDP MLA firing several rounds from his security guard’s rifle in air while standing with his supporters outside his residence.
However, Mr. Mir has denied the charge saying, “I didn’t fire any rounds. There was a commotion following my victory and the rifle of one of my personal security officer fell on ground which I retrieved and handed it back to him.”
But Omar Abdullah’s National conference said that this is not the first time that Mr Mir misused his security and their guns.
Mr. Abdullah has dared the police to register a case against Mr. Mir. “So will J&K police register a case against the gun toting MLA or will they be too scared in case he is a minister a few days from now,” he tweeted. He also said, “The PDP chap let off an AK-47 to celebrate his victory over me. Thank goodness I didn’t lose Beerwah!!! I wonder what they would have fired!”
Condemning the incident, NC spokesperson Junaid Azim Mutto said, “Such reckless and unlawful behavior from an elected lawmaker is unfortunate and unacceptable, especially in a state that has just recovered from a prolonged phase of violent turmoil.”
Watch: PDP MLA Ashraf Mir fires AK47 to celebrate his win in J&K Assembly polls
