Political Parties Condemn Killing, LG Vows Punishment For Perpetrators
Srinagar- A Kashmiri Pandit was shot dead by militants in Shopian district of south Kashmir on Saturday, evoking sharp condemnation from Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha and most political parties of Jammu and Kashmir.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Sujit Kumar , who is also in-charge of South Kashmir Range, said preliminary reports indicate that a lone militant was responsible for the killing of the Kashmiri Pandit in Chaudhrigund village..
According to Kumar, “Kashmir Freedom Fighter” (KFF) group, the proxy name of a terror outfit, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Puran Krishan Bhat was attacked near his residence in the south Kashmir district. He was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him dead, they said.
Officials said the area has been cordoned off and a hunt launched to nab the assailants.
“Terrorists fired upon a civilian (minority) Puran Krishan Bhat while he was on his way to an orchard in Chowdari Gund, Shopian. He was immediately shifted to a hospital for treatment where he succumbed. Area cordoned off. Search in progress,” the Kashmir Zone Police wrote on Twitter.
DIG Sujit Kumar said the initial investigation has revealed that one terrorist fired upon Bhat.
“There was security, our guard, for this cluster. We are looking at the reason (for the lapse). He had gone out on a scooter and just returned to his home,” he added.
Kumar said in case of any lapse, action will be taken against the security guards and the in-charge officials in the area. Investigations are underway and more details will be made public once things become clear, the police officer said.
Deputy Commissioner of Shopian Sachin Kumar Vaishya said Bhat’s body will be taken to Jammu where the last rites will be performed. “All arrangements are being made. We are extending help to the family.”
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and political leaders condemned the killing.
“Attack on Puran Krishan Bhat by terrorists in Shopian is a dastardly act of cowardice. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. I assure the people that the perpetrators and those aiding and abetting terrorists will be severely punished,” Sinha tweeted.
The National Conference condemned the “brazen and cowardly attack” and expressed “heartfelt commiserations” with Bhat’s family.
The party’s vice president, Omar Abdullah, termed the attack reprehensible. “I unequivocally condemn this attack…,” he said in a tweet.
The PDP said while the Kashmiri Pandits have been protesting for the last five months demanding their relocation after Rahul Bhat was shot dead in May, the “LG administration in their hubris kept turning a blind eye to their plight”.
“Today yet another Kashmiri Pandit, Puran Krishan, was shot dead in Shopian. Thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family,” the party said.
Democratic Azad Party chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad also condemned the attack. Pained beyond words to hear the news about militant attack on Kashmiri Pandit P K Bhat in Shopian, J&K today. I strongly condemn this heinous act of violence. My thoughts are with the family of Puran Krishan Bhat. May the departed soul rest in peace, he wrote on Twitter.
CPI(M) leader MY Tarigami said the government must ensure foolproof security for the minorities in Kashmir Valley. “Pained beyond words by the despicable attack which snuffed out the life of Puran Krishan Bhat. There does not seem any letup in the killing of innocent people. The government must ensure foolproof security to the minorities,” he tweeted.
BJP General Secretary (organisation) Ashok Koul also condemned the “barbaric” killing and offered his condolences to the family.
In a statement, he said “these anti-national elements will never be successful. These things will not be tolerated anymore as these attacks are aimed to disturb the peace in the region.”
Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari said, “Unequivocally condemn the attack…. This is a dastardly act of cowardice.”
The Peoples Conference said there can never be a justification for attacks like these.
Reacting to the killing of Bhat, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) working president Ramban Bhalla said it as a grave failure of the Union Home Ministry which directly deals with the law and order situation in the Union Territory.
Bhalla, who chaired a meeting of senior leaders here, called for urgent and effective measures to save innocent lives in Kashmir.
The party condemns the killing, which is in line with a series of such shocking incidents. It reflects that the situation in Kashmir is very grim, contrary to the claims of normalcy by the central and J-K administration, the party said in a statement.
It said the BJP-led central government has utterly failed to ensure the safety and security of common people in Kashmir, which is very unfortunate.
Bhalla and other party leaders demanded that the culprits should be identified and dealt with sternly
Home Minister Amit Shah should speak about the series of incidents of selective and targeted killings, especially of the minority community in the recent past, Bhalla said.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also condemned the incident and said the bloodbath is going on unabated in Kashmir and the BJP government as well as the LG administration are busy in spreading claims of normalcy through numerical figures and is treating loss of precious human lives as a number game.
Things are not well in any context as people are not even safe in their lawns and orchards where gunmen appear from nowhere, fire volley of bullets, take innocent human lives and then escape from the scene, AAP state spokesperson Nawab Nasir said in a statement.
He said the loss of every single human life irrespective of caste, color, creed and religion is painful and the society should stand against it to condemn the inhumane act.
The Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also expressed shock and grief over the killing.
In a statement, the Hurriyat said every single life lost in this manner is very painful and sad. It extended condolences to the bereaved family and expressed solidarity with them in their hour of great sorrow.
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