Militants shot dead Mohammad Akram Bhat, the elder brother of Jammu and Kashmir [Images] Minister of State for Home Abdul Rahman Veeri, at Zirpora village near Bejibehara town in south Kashmir's Anantnag district on Thursday afternoon.

Police sources in Srinagar [Images] said militants sprayed bullets on Bhatt from close range.  He received serious wounds on his chest.

He was taken to the local sub-district hospital in the town, 42 km from Srinagar, where attending doctors referred him to Srinagar for specialised treatment.

However, Bhatt succumbed to his injuries while being shifted to Srinagar.

Bhat was a contractor by profession.