SRINAGAR: In another targeted attack on the minority Hindu community in the valley, terrorists shot dead a community school teacher in the Kulgam district of South Kashmir.
The slain teacher has been identified as Rajni Bala, wife of Raj Kumar, a resident of Samba in Jammu. The 36-year-old teacher was posted at the Government High School, Gopalpora under the PM Package.
The ghastly attack is a stark reminder of the killing of another Kashmir Pandit, Rahul Bhat, in Budgam district of central Kashmir over a fortnight ago on May 12. Like Bala, Bhat too was a PM Package appointee who worked at the tehsil office, where he was gruesomely killed.
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“#Terrorists #fired upon one woman #teacher at High School Gopalpora area of #Kulgam. In this #terror incident, she has received #critical gunshot injuries. Being shifted to hospital. Area has been #cordoned off. Further details shall follow.@JmuKmrPolice,” Kashmir Zone tweeted soon after the incident.
Police said terrorists opened indiscriminate fire on Bala when she was about to enter school. She was critically injured and rushed to the hospital. The doctors at the hospital declared her brought dead.
“#KulgamTerrorIncidentUpdate: Injured lady teacher, a #Hindu & resident of Samba (Jammu division) #succumbed to her injuries. #Terrorists involved in this #gruesome #terror crime will be soon identified & neutralised.@JmuKmrPolice,” police said in another.
A massive cordon and search operation was underway when this report was being filed.
Last week, TV artist Amreen Bhat was killed after Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists opened fire at her in the Chadoora area of Budgam.
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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. https://t.co/jRVV7NGToL
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 31, 2022
“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. (sic),” National Conference working president Omar Abdullah tweeted.
Despite GOIs fake claims about Kashmir being normal its obvious that targeted civilian killings are on the rise & a deep cause of concern. Condemn this act of cowardice which sadly plays into the vicious anti muslim narrative spun by BJP. https://t.co/3TK6rxXu6S
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) May 31, 2022
“Despite GOIs fake claims about Kashmir being normal its obvious that targeted civilian killings are on the rise & a deep cause of concern. Condemn this act of cowardice which sadly plays into the vicious anti muslim narrative spun by BJP (sic),” Mehbooba Mufti said in a tweet.
It needs to be mentioned here that the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir are facing a new challenge as terrorists carry out target killings with help of small arms like pistols.
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The new strategy of the terrorists is hit-and-run target killings in various parts of the valley. In the last few months, several targeted killings have taken place and all of them have been done using pistols.
“All the target killings that are happening in the Valley, terrorists are using pistols, it’s easier to conceal and take from one place to another. We are focusing on this, and we have recovered 130 pistols so far and we are further working on it,” Vijay Kumar, IG Kashmir, had said.