Jammu- Puran Krishan Bhat was a frequent visitor to his home town in Shopian district and never faced any problem, and on Thursday he had gone there to join his brother to attend their apple orchard.
He had shifted his wife and two children — a son studying in Class 5 and a daughter who is in Class 7 — to Jammu in the aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, otherwise all of them were living in Shopian, said one of Bhat’s relatives waiting for his body here.
Bhat was shot dead by a lone militant in Shopian district on Saturday, according to police.
As the news of his killing spread, a pall of gloom descended on Muthi locality here on the outskirts of the city, which also houses a large migrant pandit township.
Bhat’s wife and the two children were in a state of shock as relatives and neighbours, who rushed there, were seen consoling them.
The news of his death came as a shock for us. They are brutes who do not want any Indian nationalist in the Valley, a relative of Bhat said.
The government must do something to stop such killings. What wrong did he do to anyone? a neighbour said.
The mortal remains of Bhat will reach here late Saturday night and the cremation will take place on Sunday, officials said.
Puran’s family leaves key with Muslim neighbour
Meanwhile a local news agency reported that the family members of slain Pandit left the keys of their house with their neighbour, a Muslim woman before proceeding for Jammu to join his last rites.
Pandits present at the spot were quoted by KNO as saying that they have not left the Valley because of the love and support they received from local Muslims.
“You can understand how close we are with Muslims here that Puran’s family trusted a local Muslim lady neighbour than us by handing over keys of her house,” said an elderly Pandit.
As all family members of slain Puran left for Jammu to take part in his last rites, his sister in law handed over the keys of all their belongings to local Muslim lady Fidousa.
“Puran was treating me as a sister and would encourage me to give education to my children. They trusted me by holding the keys and I will never break it,” she added.
Muslim neighbours while condemning the killing described Puran as an honest man who despite suffering economic losses cleared their dues.
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