Non-stop targeted killings in Valley, 24 killed in 23 attacks so far in 2022

SHAKEELA ANDRABI

SRINAGAR: Targeted killings of members of minority communities and other people in Valley over the past few months have triggered fear and anger among the people. This year, 23 targeted attacks were carried out in Kashmir, mostly aimed at minorities, migrants and security personnel. The 24 people martyred in these attacks include a Kashmiri Pandit government employee, a member of Rajput community, four migrants, four leaders, five police personnel, an Army soldier, two CRPF personnel, two Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel and three locals.
Among these, 10 were martyred in central Kashmir including 7 in Budgam and 3 in Srinagar while 11 were martyred in south Kashmir including 5 in Kulgam, 5 in Pulwama, one each in Anantnag and Shopian, and 2 in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
The J&K administration, after a spate of targeted killings, posted all employees belonging to the minority communities including Kashmiri Pandits to ‘safer locations’ within Kashmir.
On January 29, Ali Mohd Ganai, a policeman, was martyred outside his residence at Hasanpora village of Anantnag district, which was the first target killing of 2022. On March 2, Mohd Yaqoob Dar, a Panchayat member, was martyred in Kulpora village of Kulgam while on March 9, Sameer Ahmad Bhat, a Sarpanch was martyred at his home in Khonmoh on Srinagar outskirts. Sameer Ahmad Malla, a soldier, was martyred three days after his abduction from Lokipora in Budgam. On March 12, Shabir Ahmad Mir, a Sarpanch, was shot in Audora village of Kulgam district while Mukhtar Ahmad, a CRPF man was martyred at Chotipora village in Shopian, when he was off-duty. On March 21, Tajamul Mohi-ud-din Dar, a local was shot in Gotpora village of Budgam and on March 26, Ishfaq Ahmad, an SPO, and his brother Umar Ahmad were martyred inside their home at Chadbugh Budgam. On April 4, Vishal Kumar, a CRPF man was martyred and his colleague got injured at Maisuma in Srinagar. On April 13, Satish Kumar Singh, a member of the Rajput community, was martyred in Kakran village of Kulgam while on April 15 Manzoor Ahmad Bangroo, a sarpanch, was martyred in Goshbugh village of Pattan. On April 18, Surinder Singh and Deb Raj, both RPF personnel, were martyred at Kakapora Railway Station and on May 13, Riyaz Ahmad Thoker, a policeman was martyred in Gudoora village of Pulwama. On May 17, Ranjit Singh, a wine shop employee from Rajouri, was attacked inside shop in Baramulla and on May 24, Saifullah Qadri, a policeman, was martyred in his house at Soura, Srinagar. Qadri’s nine-year-old daughter also got injured in attack. Next day on May 25, TV artist Amreen Bhat was attacked inside her house at Hushroo Chadoora and on May 31, Rajni Bala, a school teacher from Jammu, was martyred outside her school in Gopalpora, Kulgam. On June 2, Vijay Beniwal, a bank manager from Rajasthan, was martyred inside his office in Arreh village of Kulgam while Dilkhush Kumar, a labourer from Bihar, was martyred while his colleague got injured in terrorist attack in Magraypora village of Chadoora in Budgam. On June 17, an off-duty police sub inspector was martyred in Pampore area. This was the second target killing in month of June. There has been a series of targeted attacks on off-duty policemen in Kashmir so far and Police has claimed that all terrorists behind these targeted attacks have been killed during various encounters.