Terrorists kill Hindu teacher in Kulgam; KPs threaten mass migration from Kashmir

STATE TIMES NEWS

Srinagar: A Hindu woman teacher was shot dead on Tuesday by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district, following which Kashmiri Pandits, employed under the PM package, threatened to undertake mass migration from the valley if they were not relocated to safe places within the next 24 hours.
The killing of Rajni Bala (36), who belonged to Jammu’s Samba district but was posted at a government school in Gopalpora, Kulgam, is the second killing of a non-Muslim government employee in May and the seventh targeted killing in Kashmir this month.

Killers will be given unforgettable response: Sinha
Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday condemned the killing of a Hindu woman teacher by terrorists inside a government school in Kulgam, saying the assailants will be given an “unforgettable response”.
“Terrorist attack on a school teacher Rajni Bala is the most reprehensible act. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family. Terrorists and their sympathisers will be given unforgettable response for dastardly attack,” Sinha tweeted.
Veteran Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad also condemned the attack.
“I am pained to learn about the heart wrenching incidents of targeted killing of two women in Kashmir within one week, Amreen Bhat and Rajani Bala. I strongly condemn the killing of Rajani Bala,” Azad tweeted.
“I urge the administration to take stringent measures to safeguard the lives of innocent civilians. I express my sympathies with the bereaved families,” he added.

Police officials said Bala was injured in the attack and taken to a nearby district hospital where she was declared dead.
An official said the area was cordoned off and a manhunt launched to track down the assailants.

Protests erupt in Jammu over killing of school teacher
Jammu: Protests against the killing of a Hindu schoolteacher in Kulgam district rocked several parts of Jammu city on Tuesday, with protesters burning an effigy of the administration and raising slogans against Pakistan.
Terming the killing a “cowardly act”, the protesters said assurances given by the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir administration to ensure the safety of minorities in the Valley have proved to be false.
Some even demanded that members of the minority community be provided arms licences to enable them to possess weapons for their protection. Kashmiri Pandits took out a rally in the Durga Nagar area here to protest Bala’s killing and the administration’s “total failure” to protect them. They also raised slogans against Pakistan.
“There have been 22 killings of Hindus by terrorists in the Valley and over 14 people have been injured. Four temples have been attacked. This is an undeclared assault on minorities in Kashmir and the government is saying that the situation is normal,” Kashmiri Pandit leader Vinood Tickoo said.
The Dogra Front also took out a protest rally in the city.
Two hundred Bajrang Dal activists also held a protest here against Bala’s killing.
They raised slogans against the Jammu and Kashmir administration for failing to protect government employees belonging to the minority community. They blocked a road for an hour and burnt an effigy of the administration.
The protesters also raised slogans against Pakistan.
“The government should grant us arms licenses, we will fight in Kashmir. Minority Hindu employees serving in the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley should also be given weapons for their personal protection,” Jammu president of Bajrang Dal Rakesh Kumar told reporters.
Shiv Sena activists led by the party’s Jammu and Kashmir unit president Manish Sahni also held a protest against Bala’s killing.
At a press conference held at the Shiv Sena’s office here, Sahni said the killing of innocent people is intolerable.
The “nefarious acts” of terrorists are increasing day by day. All the assurances of security given by the central and state governments are proving to be completely false, he said.
Sahni demanded that people be granted arms licenses to be able to fight terrorism in the Kashmir Valley.
Licensed weapons in the hands of people is the only way for them to protect themselves and their families, he added.
Sahni said the targeted killings in Kashmir have created panic among the minorities as well as the majority community.
Activists of Mission Statehood Jammu and Kashmir also held a protest at the Janipur High Court road and blocked traffic.
They raised anti-Pakistan slogans and demanded that all government employees from the minority community be transferred to Jammu from Kashmir.
Mission Statehood Jammu and Kashmir chief Sunil Dimple appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit shah to stop the bloodshed and targeted killings of innocents in Kashmir.
Bala’s is the second killing of a non-Muslim government employee in May. On May 12, Rahul Bhat, a clerk, was shot dead inside the tehsildar’s office in Budgam district’s Chadoora.
This is also the seventh targeted killing in Kashmir this month. While three of the victims were off-duty policemen, four were civilians.

“Those involved in this gruesome terror crime will be soon identified and neutralised,” a police spokesperson said adding that a case under relevant sections of law and initiated investigation. Officers continue to work to establish the full circumstances of the terror crime. The whole area has been cordoned off with the help of reinforcement and search in the area is going on.
The woman’s killing evoked widespread condemnation in the Valley.
“Very sad. This is yet another targeted killing in a long list of recent attacks directed at unarmed civilians. Words of condemnation & condolence ring hollow as do the assurances of the government that they will not rest till situation normalises. May the deceased rest in peace,” National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah tweeted.
“Rajni was from Samba District of Jammu province. A government teacher working in Kulgam area of South Kashmir, she lost her life in a despicable targeted attack. My heart goes out to her husband Raj Kumar & the rest of her family. Another home irreparably damaged by violence,” he added.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said despite the Centre’s claims of normalcy in Kashmir, targeted killings were on the rise.
“Despite GOIs fake claims about Kashmir being normal its obvious that targeted civilian killings are on the rise & a deep cause of concern (sic). Condemn this act of cowardice which sadly plays into the vicious anti Muslim narrative spun by BJP,” she tweeted.
Sajad Lone also condemned the killing, saying cowardice has yet again plummeted to shameless depths.
“A teacher, an innocent woman hailing from Samba, has been shot dead in Kulgam. May her soul rest in peace,” he said.
BJP spokesman Altaf Thakur said he strongly condemned the attack. “Yet another dastardly act of terrorism in Kulgam. Attacking unarmed civilians, that too women, is no bravery but an act of frustration,” he added.
This is second killing of a non-Muslim government employee in the month of May. On May 12, Rahul Bhat, a clerk, was shot dead inside the tehsildar’s office in Chadoora tehsil of Budgam district.
Of the seven targeted killings that took place in Kashmir this month, three victims were off-duty policemen and four were civilians.
Meanwhile, Kashmiri Pandits, employed under the prime minister’s package, have threatened to undertake mass migration from the valley if the government did not relocate them to safe places within the next 24 hours as employees from the community hit the streets at various places to protest against the teacher’s killing.
We have decided that if the government did not take any concrete steps for us (safety) within 24 hours, there will be mass migration again, one of the protesters said here.
He said the target killing of Kashmiri Pandits is continuing and the community is now tired of making appeals to the government.
We are asking for temporary relocation for two to three years till the situation in the valley returns to normal, he added.
Some Kashmiri Pandit employees assembled at the Ghanta Ghar (Clock tower) at Lal Chowk here to protest against the killing while another group gathered at Batwara in Sonawar area of the city and raised slogans against the Union Territory administration, officials said.
In south Kashmir’s Qazigund town, Kashmiri Pandit employees blocked one of the tubes of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, they said.
Meanwhile, Congress has strongly condemned targeted killing of a women school teacher from Samba in Kulgam area of Kashmir on Tuesday and termed the situation as worrisome, as government has failed to stop process of selective killings. In a statement issued here, JKPCC said that minorities and others are being targeted by evil-designs of enemies, which is very dangerous and worrisome. The government has failed to stop such attacks and to ensure safety of soft targets like minorities, migrant and Jammu employees and outside workers. Party conveyed deep sympathies with bereaved family and prayed for peace to departed soul.
Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad Jammu Kashmir has also condemned target killing of female teacher. State Secretary Mukesh Manhas three policemen and three civilians were also martyred by terrorists, who are now trying to create a feeling of fear among minorities.
Terming killing as a heinous crime by terrorists, Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “Targeted killing spree has created havoc and absolute insecurity among the masses. Nobody is able to understand why innocent people are being gunned down. Everyone, irrespective of his or her religious belief and political ideology is frightened,” and urged security agencies to nab the culprits at the earliest.
J&K High Court Bar Association Jammu, during a meeting held under the leadership of its President Sr Adv M K Bhardwaj, has condemned killing of an innocent teacher. Terming incident as a matter of serious concern, all the members of the Bar Association Jammu expressed anguish that despite repeated attacks on minorities in Valley, the Government / authorities have not learnt any lesson and completely failed to provide appropriate security to innocent citizens. Prominent among others present during the meeting included Advs Amandeep Singh, Rohit Sharma, Gagandeep Singh Lucky, Yaseer Farooq Khan, Mohinder Pal Singh Pali, Surjeet Singh Andotra, Aditya Sharma, Karanjeet Singh Johal and Naresh Kumar.
In a condemnation statement issued here, Vinod Pandita, a KP leader appealed to the Government of India and LG J&K to work more seriously and vigorously to dismantle terror ecosystem existing in Valley. He also appealed for ensuring foolproof safety and security arrangements for PM package employees and all minorities working in valley. Others who condemned the ghastly killing included Ashok Kumar Koul, Ravinder Raina, M K Koul and Ashok Kumar Pandita.
Kashmiri Pandit Sabha has condemned the brutal killing of a woman teacher in Kulgam. “It is abject failure of the UT government. The hollow claims by LG, in a television interview that by and large normalcy has been restored except for occasional killing, are not reassuring. The frequency of such killings has increased alarmingly and it seems UT government is not only at a loss to tackle this situation but is also brazenly refusing to accept responsibility,” said K K Khosa, President KPS. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to take direct control by changing the present regime which has proven to be incompetent and irresponsible.
Senior National Conference Leader and Former Minister Mr Ajay Kumar Sadhotra condemned brutal and inhuman killing of Rajni Bala, saying the targeted terror attacks have assumed alarming proportions in the Valley and government must take effective measures to infuse a sense of security and confidence among people in general and those working there in particular.
Chairperson District Development Council Kulgam Mohd Afzal Parray along with DDC Members, PRIs of District, Civil Society Kulgam, NGOs also organised a candle march to pay homage to Rajni Bala, who was martyred by terrorists in Gopalpora, Kulgam.