SRINAGAR/NEW DELHI: Terrorists on Tuesday shot dead Makhan Lal Bindroo, one of the well-known chemist shop owners in the heart of Srinagar city.
A snack vendor also was shot at in Botakadal, Lal Bazaar area of the city. He was rushed to the hospital but was declared brought dead during admission.
Official sources told The New Indian that terrorists shot at the owner of Bindroo Medicate, Makhan Lal Bindroo, inside his shop at Hari Singh High Street, at Lal Chowk near the Iqbal park, in Srinagar on Tuesday. Bindroo succumbed to his injuries, sources said.
Eyewitnesses said, Bindroo had received several wounds in his chest due to multiple bullet shots. Bindroo, was one of the few hundred Kashmiri Pandits who had stayed back in Kashmir in 1990, when the entire ethnic minority community was driven out by Islamist terror groups. ALSO READ: J&K Police in dark after temple desecration in Anantnag; Netas share outrage
Many members of Hindu community in Kashmir have been killed by terrorists since the Central government reorganized Jammu & Kashmir state in August 2019, nullifying the contentious Article 370 of the Indian constitution.
Akash Mehra, the son of the owner of a popular eatery, Krishna Dhaba, was shot at by terrorists in February this year. He succumbed to his injuries ten days after he was being treated for his bullet wounds in a hospital. BJP leader Rakesh Pandita was shot dead by terrorists in June in south Kashmir’s Tral area.
Reports say the terrorists killed one more civilian in Bandipora district. The victim was identified as Muhammad Shafi Lone, a civilian in Naidkhai area of Bandipora district.
This was the third civilian killing by terrorists in the region on Tuesday.
Minorities in Kashmir continue to live in vulnerability
Though overall, stone-pelting violence and terror attacks have dropped dramatically in the last two years, minorities continue to be vulnerable. Terror groups have been selectively targeting members of the Hindu minority and their religious symbols.
Last Saturday, extremists desecrated the temple of Bargheshekha Bhagwati Mata temple in the Mattan area of Anantnag, in south Kashmir.
J&K LG Manoj Sinha said the perpetrators will be brought to justice very soon.
“Deeply anguished to hear about the terror attack on Shri Makhan Lal Bindroo, owner of Bindroo Medicate. I strongly condemn this cowardly act. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family. Perpetrators of this heinous act will be brought to justice very soon,” office of LG J&K tweeted.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also condemned the killing.
“What terrible news! He was a very kind man. I’ve been told he never left during the height of militancy and remained with his shop open. I condemn this killing in the strongest possible terms & convey my heartfelt condolences to his family. God bless his soul,” Omar tweeted.
Ex-Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the terrorist attack and said violence has no place in our society.
“Condemn the killing of Shri M.L. Bindroo who chose to stay back in Kashmir even during peak insurgency. Such acts of violence have no place in our society. May his family find the strength to deal with this loss,” Mehbooba tweeted.