SRINAGAR: Suspected militants on Saturday shot dead an official of the ruling party in Indian-ruled Kashmir, police said, days after rebels made a failed bid on the life of a senior government minister.

Bashir Ahmed was killed the main city of Srinagar, a police officer said, asking not to be named.

“He was shot in the head and died before he could be taken to a hospital,” he said, blaming anti-India rebels for the daylight killing.

No rebel group has claimed responsibility so far.

The killing came days after suspected rebels killed a policeman in an attack on December 11 on senior minister Ali Mohammed Sagar, who escaped uninjured.

Like Sagar, Ahmed was also associated with the ruling National Conference.

Militants who oppose Indian rule in Kashmir have in the past killed ministers and pro-India politicians.

Kashmir has been hit by an insurgency since 1989 that has left more than 47,000 people dead by official count.

Militant violence has dropped sharply in Kashmir since India and Pakistan, which each hold the region in part but claim it in full, started a peace process in 2004.