Describing the assassination of Jammu and Kashmir [Images] Education Minister Ghulam [Images] Nabi Lone as 'inhuman', Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed said on Tuesday that it was all the more reprehensible as the miltants struck at a time when the state was mourning the deaths of thousands of people in the October 8 killer quake.

He, however, said such attacks would not deter the people from pursuing the path of peace and the process of dialogue and reconciliation would be carried forward.

Describing the death of Lone as very 'unfortunate' and a 'personal loss', Sayeed said in a statement that the entire administration is busy with relief and rehabilitation work and the incident shows that those who carried out this dastardly act have no regard for human suffering.

The killers, he said, have also violated the sanctity of the ongoing holy month of Ramzan.

• 'Lone's killing an act of desperation'

Conveying his condolences to the bereaved family, he described Lone as an honest, upright and very amenable person who as a minister brought about improvement in the education sector.

Sayeed and several ministers placed wreaths on the body of Lone, which was kept in state at the Police Control Room in Batmaloo locality.

A contingent of Jammu and Kashmir police lowered their guns and sounded the last post in memory of the departed leader. Later, his body was taken to his native village in Sopore in Baramulla district for the last rites.