New Delhi: In this year’s first targeted killing, a Kashmiri Pandit was shot Sunday by alleged terrorists in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, according to the police.
Sanjay Sharma, 40, was targeted when he was on his way to a local market. The bank security guard was shifted to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to injuries.
Former J&K chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah as well as Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti condemned the killing of Sharma.
“Terrorists fired upon one civilian from minority namely Sanjay Sharma S/O Kashinath Sharma R/O Achan Pulwama while on way to local market. He was shifted to hospital however, he succumbed to injuries,” police tweeted. “There was armed guard in his village. Area cordoned off. Details shall follow.”
Last year Kashmir saw a series of such targeted killings following which several Kashmiri Pandits left the Valley for security reasons. Twenty-nine targeted attacks on civilians, including non-local labourers, were reported last year.
Sunday’s firing is the first such incident of suspected targeted killing this year. The last attack took place in October 2022 when a Kashmiri Pandit was shot dead by terrorists in Shopian district of Kashmir.
On Friday, terrorists fired upon the son of a slain police constable, outside a mosque in Hasanpora Tavela area of Bijbehara, Anantnag.
Former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti targeted the Modi government for its “failure to protect minorities in J&K”. “ “It is the government’s failure. The BJP government has failed to ensure safety of the minorities here. They (BJP) use minorities to show normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir. They use these incidents to defame Muslims across the country,” the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief told reporters in Anantnag.
“Sanjay was working as a bank security guard & was killed in a militant attack earlier today. I unequivocally condemn this attack & send my condolences to his loved ones,” National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah said.
Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti also attacked the Centre over the killings, saying that the government and the BJP cannot handle 75 lakh population of Kashmir. “Kashmiri Pandits are killed like dogs in Kashmir. Home Minister and J&K LG sensor the information that Kashmir is (the) most dangerous place for Kashmiri Pandits in this world,” it tweeted.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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