In yet another 'horrific act of terror', an unarmed Kashmiri pandit sarpanch was gunned down by the 'unidentified' terrorists near his house in South Kashmir district of Anantnag late Monday evening.
The deceased public representative has been identified by the police as 38-year-old Ajay Pandita (Bharti), Sarpanch of Lokbawan,Larkipora in Anantnag.
He was an active political worker in the area and was elected as Sarpanch last year after defeating a BJP candidate in the Panchayat polls. According to local reports, Ajay Bharti was demanding security cover for the last couple of months but his requests were ignored.
His family members reacted angrily outside the hospital premises after learning news of his death. Feeling unsafe, they shouted slogans demanding immediate protection from the Government.
Several activists belonging to the Kashmiri pandit community reacted angrily on various social media platforms and raised serious concerns over security of minority population in Kashmir valley. They also condemned the targeted killing of a kashmiri pandit public representative in cold blood.
Police spokesman in a statement said, “at about 6.00 p.m Anantnag police received information about a terror crime incident in Lokbowan area of Anantnag, where terrorists had fired on a Congress Sarpanch”. Police spokesman said, “the deceased was identified as Ajay Pandita (congress Sarpanch) son of Om Kar Nath resident of Lukbawan Anantnag. He was shot at by the terrorists near his house”. The injured, with grievous injuries was shifted to nearby hospital for treatment where he succumbed to his injuries.A case has been registered under the relevant sections of law and investigations have been initiated to ascertain the motive behind the killing of a public representative.
In the past over one dozen public representatives have been gunned down by the terrorists in Kashmir valley to disrupt the political process.