A Kashmiri Pandit was shot dead from point blank range by “unidentified” terrorists near his residence, located close to a security camp, in the Chowdhari Gund area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Saturday.
The deceased has been identified as Puran Krishan Bhat by the police authorities.
In a tweet, Kashmir Zone police said, “Terrorists fired upon a civilian (minority) Puran Krishan Bhat while he was on way to orchard in Chowdari Gund Shopian. He was immediately shifted to hospital for treatment where he succumbed. Area cordoned off. Search in progress.”
A lesser know Kashmir Freedom Fighter (KFF) group, the proxy name of a terrorist group, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Bhat, a lone bread earner of his family, is survived by his wife and two minor children, a boy and a girl. They were staying in Jammu at the time of the incident.
Close family members of Puran Bhat in Jammu claimed he went to Kashmir around two weeks ago to look after his apple orchards.
Meanwhile, the cold bloodied murder of a Kashmiri pandit has once again exposed the tall claims made by the Union Territory authorities about making fool proof security arrangements for the members belonging to the minority ‘Hindu’ community living in different parts of Kashmir valley. So far around 20 people have been killed by unidentified terrorists since January 2022 which included security personnel, members of the Panchayati Raj Institutions, non local labourers/bank employees and Kashmiri pandits.
Agitated over the killing of a local Kashmiri pandit, several neighbours who were assembled there to mourn his killing raised question marks over the presence of a security camp in the close vicinity. “If these security personnel cannot protect us, how will we survive here, ‘’ a local resident shouted in front of media persons.
“This is our Kashmir too, we want to live here, it is our land but when we are targeted we don’t feel safe,” he said.
After the incident took place Deputy Inspector General of police Sujit Kumar visited the area to take stock of the situation.
Speaking to reporters in the area, the DIG said the initial investigation has revealed that one terrorist fired upon Bhat. He said there was security 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.
