A bank employee from Rajasthan was shot dead by terrorists in J&K’s Kulgam districton Thursday, officials said. It is the 8th targeted killing in the Union Territory of J&K since May. The employee of the Ellaqui Dehati Bank, Vijay Kumar was shot inside the bank premises, they said. The killing caught outrage among the residents of J&K.
A resident of Hanumangarh in Rajasthan, Kumar was rushed to the hospital.
Soon after the attack, a joint team of J-K Police, Indian Army and paramilitary forces cordoned off the area to trace the militants responsible for the attack.
Taking to Twitter, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said,
जम्मू कश्मीर के कुलगाम में कार्यरत हनुमानगढ़, राजस्थान के निवासी श्री विजय कुमार की आतंकियों द्वारा हत्या घोर निंदनीय है। मैं ईश्वर से उनकी आत्मा की शांति एवं परिवार को हिम्मत देने की प्रार्थना करता हूं।
Attacking the Modi government, he said, “The NDA government has failed to restore peace in Kashmir. The central government should ensure the safety of citizens in Kashmir. Such killing of our citizens by militants will not be tolerated.”
A view on recent attacks
On Monday, a high school teacher – Rajini Bhalla – died of gunshot injuries in Kulgam. Her family has claimed that they had urged the government for a transfer. The orders had come just a day before her death and it was too late by then, her husband said.
About 10 days ago, a Kashmiri TV actress, Amreen Bhat, was killed in Budgam’s Chadoora area, while her 10-year-old nephew was injured. The terrorists – involved – were later shot dead in an encounter.
On May 12, Rahul Bhat, a Kashmir Pandit, was shot dead inside his office by terrorists in the Budgam. The incident renewed concerns over the safety of Kashmiri Pandit living in the valley, with the community members, including Bhat’s family, accusing the BJP-led government at the Centre of not doing enough for them.
Meanwhile, three soldiers were injured in an explosion that took place in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian on Thursday morning. According to the police, the blast took place in a private vehicle after which the injured soldiers were hospitalised. Further probe was on.