A 45-year-old Kashmiri Pandit identified as Sunil Kumar Bhat was shot dead in cold blood by “unidentified” terrorists while his brother Pintu Kumar received critical gunshot injuries inside their apple orchard in the South Kashmir district of Shopian on Tuesday.
The duo were working in the orchard located close to their homes when they were targeted. Sunil Bhat, the sole earning member of the family, is survived by four daughters, wife and an elder brother.
The attack comes close on the heels of the culmination of successful Har Ghar Tiranga campaign across Kashmir.
According to police, “Terrorists fired upon civilians in an apple orchard in Chotipora area of Shopian on Tuesday. One person died and one was injured. Both were members of the minority community living in the Kashmir valley. Injured person has been shifted to hospital.”
In a similar attack which took place in the first week of April 2022, a close relative of Sunil Bhat was targeted by two motorcyle-borne terrorists inside his chemist shop in Shopian.
The fresh killing of a member belonging to the minority community has once again sparked off angry reactions from all quarters. Under these circumstances uncertainty writ large over the return of the Kashmiri migrant employees, sitting on dharna in support of their single point demand of relocation to safer areas outside the Kashmir valley since May 10. Since January 2020, around 14 Kashmiri pandits have been targeted by the terrorists across different parts of the Kashmir valley to terrorise them and drive them away.
Local Kashmiri pandit residents and close relatives of the deceased family vent their ire against the local administration for ignoring their security and not providing adequate security cover to protect them or prevent such targeted killings. As the mortal remains of the deceased Sunil Kumar Bhat was shifted to his native village, mourners gathered from the nearby villages joined the last journey. Senior officers who arrived there to offer condolence faced the brunt of the angry relatives. “Last time when my brother was targeted by the terrorists we visited the offices of the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and Deputy Commissioner Shopian to ensure safety of the members belonging to the minority community”. “But instead of paying attention to our passionate appeals the senior officers looked the other way claiming they cannot do much in this regard. They only advised us to stay indoors and directed us to restrict our movement”.
Meanwhile, the Kashmiri Pandit Sangharash Samiti (KPSS) has asked the community members to leave the valley in wake of the increased attacks on them by the terrorists.
“With another deadly attack on Kashmiri pandits in Kashmir, the terrorists have made it clear that they are going to kill all the Kashmiri pandits in Kashmir valley,” KPSS chief Sanjay Tickoo said in a written statement.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and political leaders of various parties have condemned the killing in Shopian district. “Pained beyond words on the despicable terror attack on civilians in Shopian. My thoughts are with the family of Sunil Kumar. Praying for a speedy recovery of the injured. The attack deserves the strongest condemnation from everyone. Terrorists responsible for the barbaric act will not be spared,” Sinha tweeted.
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah also condemned the killing. “Terribly sad news from South Kashmir today. An accident and a militant attack have left a trail of death and suffering. I condemn the militant attack in Shopian unequivocally in which Sunil Kumar was killed and Pinto Kumar injured. My condolences to the family,” he said.
J&k BJP Chief Ravinder Raina in a statement said, “The coward Pakistani terrorists targeted the members of the minority community in the South Kashmir district of Shopian. The two kashmiri brothers, Sunil Kumar Bhat and Pintu Kumar were targeted by them. Pakistan wants bloodbath in the Kashmir valley, The Pakistani terrorists are the enemies of the people of Kashmir. We will not allow Pakistan to fulfil its nefarious designs. All those involved in the attack will be taken to task and punished.
PDP Chief and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti tweeted, “Terribly sorry to hear about the targeted killing in Shopian. Condolences to the deceased’s family. GOI continues to behave like an ostrich with its head buried deep under the sand. Every resident of J&K has become cannon fodder in Delhi’s quest for ‘manufactured normalcy’.”
People’s Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone condemned the attack as a “heinous act of violence” and expressed his condolences to the family of the victims.