The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said Wani was a protected person and the role of his security guards is being investigated. "The murdered Sarpanch, Javed, was a protected person with bodyguards & secure accommodation in Srinagar a fact conveniently unreported". "The circumstances surrounding location of his bodyguards is the subject of investigation". Wani's killing is the fifth instance in the last six months in which a sarpanch has been killed in the state. While three sarpanchs were killed in September last year, another was shot dead in January.