Ultras responsible for barbaric act won’t be spared: Sinha
STATE TIMES NEWS
Srinagar: Terrorists shot dead a Kashmiri Pandit and injured his brother on Tuesday at an apple orchard in Shopian district, which had seen similar attacks on the minority community in April.
The victim Sunil Kumar Pandit had gone with his brother Pitambar Nath Pandit alias Pintu to his orchard in Chotigam village of Shopian along with their cattle when they were attacked with AK-47 assault rifle.
“Terrorists fired upon civilians in an apple orchard in Chotipora area of #Shopian. One person died and one injured. Both belong to minority community. Injured person has been shifted to hospital. Area #cordoned off. Further details shall follow,” a police spokesperson tweeted.
According to police officials, two terrorists came to the orchard in the forenoon. While one started firing with his AK-47 rifle on the brothers, the other captured the act on his mobile phone camera.
Sunil Kumar, who leaves behind four daughters and his wife, died on the spot, and his brother was battling for life at an army hospital here.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said that he was “pained beyond words on the despicable terror attack on civilians in Shopian. My thoughts are with the family of Sunil Kumar. Praying for a speedy recovery of the injured. The attack deserves the strongest condemnation from everyone. Terrorists responsible for the barbaric act will not be spared”.
Terrorists had struck in the same village in April when they opened fire on Kashmiri Pandit chemist Balkrishen Bhat alias Sonu Kumar, who miraculously escaped death. He was injured and remained in hospital for a long period.
After the incident, the administration had assured that the presence of security forces where minorities were living would be increased.
There has been a sudden spike in attacks on minorities, labourers and police personnel in the valley since the beginning of this year. The death toll in targeted attacks has gone up to 21 this year which includes two Kashmiri Pandits. An obscure Kashmir Freedom Fighter group claimed responsibility for the attack but security forces believe it to be an act by the terrorists of banned Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Heated arguments were witnessed outside the residence of the victim when officials from the administration visited the family. The brother of Balkrishen Bhat confronted the officials and accused them of failing in their duties to ensure the safety of minorities.
“After my brother was shot, I personally met the Deputy Commissioner of Shopian and Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir for our safety. They told me nothing can be done and we should continue to stay where we live,” Anil Bhat claimed.
An agitated Bhat held the administration responsible for the killing and alleged it has failed in its duty to safeguard people’s safety.
There are only two or three Kashmiri Pandit families in Chotigam, nearly 10 km from the Shopian district headquarters and 70 km from Srinagar. The region is a hotbed of terrorism and is considered a stronghold of the terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Moahmmed.
The increased terror attacks in the past week have left the security agencies worried as the terrorists have now again started targeting members of minority community, police personnel and outside labourers.
A policeman was killed in Nowhatta on Sunday and a migrant labourer was shot dead in Bandipora last week. Two grenade attacks took place in Budgam — in which a Kashmir Pandit civilian was injured — and in the Police Control Room at Srinagar on Monday.
Tuesday’s killings saw widespread condemnation from administration and political parties.
Condemning the killing, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah tweeted, “Terribly sad news from South Kashmir today. An accident and a militant attack have left a trail of death and suffering. I condemn the militant attack in Shopian unequivocally in which Sunil Kumar was killed and Pinto Kumar injured. My condolences to the family.”
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti while condemning the killing said Jammu and Kashmir has become cannon fodder in “Delhi’s quest for manufactured normalcy”.
“Terribly sorry to hear about the targeted killing in Shopian. Condolences to the deceased’s family. GOI continues to behave like an ostrich with its head buried deep under the sand. Every resident of J&K has become cannon fodder in Delhi’s quest for ‘manufactured normalcy’,” she said. BJP spokesman Altaf Thakur said, “Strongly condemn the dastardly act of terror on innocent minority community members at Shopian in which Sunil Kumar was killed and another injured. Terror has no religion. Killers should be punished.” People’s Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone condemned the attack as a “heinous act of violence” and expressed his condolences to the family of the victims.
Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) strongly condemned the barbaric killing of an innocent Kashmiri Pandit Sunil Kumar and seriously injured his brother Pinto Ji , who even not left the valley during the turmoil also. Kundan Kashmiri, President KPC said that such unending barbaric acts continue to happen from the last 32 years. He said these terrorists strikes has further created a sense of insecurity among the Kashmiri Pandit residents living in Kashmir including PM package employees and others, as they have become soft target for these gun-totted youths who are killing the KP’s for sadistic pleasure. He also demanded that Government must revisit its Kashmir policy and urgent steps taken for consolidated rehabilitation all displaced KPs at “one place ” in valley with fool proof security. Other KPC leaders and activists which include Dr. H.L Saraf, Tej Pandita, MK Raina, Susheel Ji Bhat, R.L Raina and others expressed their similar view and sentiments over this gruesome incident. Former minister and senior National Conference leader, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra on Tuesday condemned the terror attack on two brothers, belonging to minority Kashmiri Hindu community, in Shopian, rendering one dead and another critically injured. “This is the most inhuman and barbarous act”, Sadhotra said in a statement issued here this afternoon, adding that no words are enough to express shock and grief over the demise of Sunil Kumar. Sadhotra wished speedy recovery to Sunil Kumar’s brother, Pintu Kumar, who were working in their apple orchardists when the barbaric terrorists struck and made them their victims. Several groups staged protests against the killing and demanded adequate measures to ensure safety of the minority community members in the valley. The protesters, who gathered at different places including Rani Park, Press Club and Panama chowk in the heart of Jammu, also raised slogans against Pakistan and the terrorists besides criticising the government for its alleged failure to stop targeted and selective killings. A group of people also staged a protest at district headquarters in the border town of Poonch.