BJP team visits slain cleric's house

The leaders -- Rajnath Singh, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Shahnawaz Hussain -- accompanied by other members of the fact-finding BJP team earlier paid obeisance at the historic Hazratbal shrine. They also visited the famous Sikh temple at Chati Padshahi in the old city.

They later visited Shah's residence, and met his son and brother, offering their condolences. Singh said that Shah was a big religious leader working for the poor in the society. He said his death was a great loss to humanity.

Shah was killed in an improvised explosive device blast while stepping into a mosque in uptown Maisuma locality where he had gone for Friday prayers last week. He headed the Kashmir chapter of the Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith organisation, and would also deliver Friday sermons at the mosque.

The imam's assassination evoked widespread condemnation from both various separatist groups and the mainstream parties in the state. The leaders are on a fact-finding mission and are meeting various delegations. The team is also visiting Ladakh. Singh said the team would be visiting Kashmir again before submitting a report to the BJP president.