New Delhi: A senior bank official was shot dead in Kulgam on Thursday, the latest in a series of targeted killings since October last year.
The Kashmir Zone Police said terrorists fired upon the manager of the Ellaqie Dehati Bank, Vijay Kumar, who died in hospital after being grievously injured in this “terror incident”.
#KulgamTerrorIncidentUpdate: #Injured bank employee namely Vijay Kumar #succumbed to his injuries at hospital. #Search in the area going on. Further details shall follow.@JmuKmrPolice https://t.co/gt9lhrrFEC
— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) June 2, 2022
The shooting took place at the bank’s Areh Mohanpora Branch in the Kulgam district.
The police identified Kumar as a resident of Hanumangarh in Rajasthan.
The area has been sealed off while the force combs for culprits, the police’s Twitter handle said.
Rajasthan’s Congress Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot decried the killing, accusing the central government of failing to restore peace in Jammu and Kashmir. Gehlot tweeted: “The central government should ensure the safety of citizens in Kasmir,” adding, “We shall not tolerate the murder of citizens by terrorists.”
Meanwhile, Hindus employed in Kashmir continued protests asking authorities for enhanced security.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday had bemoaned the killings of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley, demanding adequate security for them
Kejriwal said 16 pandits had been killed in Jammu and Kashmir this year.
“Kashmiri Pandits are being murdered one by one,” he was quoted from a statement.
A Hindu woman teacher — 36-year-old Rajni Bala from Jammu’s Samba — was shot dead on Tuesday, also in Kulgam.
Following this, Kashmiri Pandits, employed under the Prime Minister’s package, threatened mass migration from the Valley in 24 hours.
Security officers as well as migrants have also been targeted and killed in Kashmir in the last few months.
Also read: Behind Kashmir civilian killings, local men ‘made terrorists online less than 10-15 days earlier’