After a brief lull in the run-up to Independence Day, terrorists appeared to have resumed their targeted killings of the minority community in Kashmir.
On Tuesday afternoon, terrorists shot dead a Kashmiri Pandit in the Shopian district of Kashmir while critically injuring his brother. The deceased has been identified as Sunil Kumar. His injured brother has been identified as Pintu Kumar.
“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 (sic),” Kashmir police tweeted.
The latest incident took place three months after the killing of Kashmiri Pandit Rahul Bhat, a revenue employee in the Budgam district of central Kashmir.
Since last October, Kashmir has been witnessing a series of targeted killings by terrorists. Many of the victims were migrant workers or Kashmiri Pandits.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said that he was “pained beyond words” over the killing of a member of a minority group and injuries to his brother in the Shopian district.
“Pained beyond words on despicable terror attack on civilians in Shopian. My thoughts are with the family of Sunil Kumar. Praying for speedy recovery of injured. The attack deserves strongest condemnation from everyone. Terrorists responsible for barbaric act will not be spared (sic),” LG office tweeted.
The former chief minister and National Conference vice president, Omar Abdullah, as well as Peoples Conference chairman, Sajad Gani Lone, also condemned the attack.
“I condemn the militant attack in Shopian unequivocally in which Sunil Kumar was killed & Pinto Kumar injured. My condolences to the family (sic),” Omar said in a tweet.
Lone tweeted: “Yet another dastardly attack by coward terrorists in Shopian. We strongly condemn this heinous act of violence. My condolences to the family(sic).”
In October last year, seven civilians were killed in five days – among them a Kashmiri Pandit, a Sikh and two migrant Hindus.
On Monday, as the country celebrated 75 years of Independence, two people, including a civilian from a minority community, were injured in two grenade attacks by terrorists in Kashmir. The incident took place in the Gopalpora Chadoora area of Budgam.