Srinagar: A Kashmiri Pandit was shot dead by a terrorist in the Valley today, in yet another targeted killing of the minority Hindus by Pakistan-backed elements.
Pooran Krishan Bhat was shot at when he was on his way to his orchard in Chowdari Gund village of Shopian district in South Kashmir, police said.
The critically injured Bhat was immediately rushed to a hospital but could not survive, the police said.
The orchard was just about half a kilometre away from Bhat’s residence.
“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 police said in a tweet.
According to initial investigation, the attack was carried out by one terrorist, DIG of Police Sujit Kumar said.
He claimed that security was provided to the cluster of Kashmiri Pandits living in the area.
“Action will definitely be taken if any security lapse is found on part of the security guards or any official in charge of the area,” he said.
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Some so-called Kashmir Freedom Fighter (KFF), clearly a proxy terror outfit, has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to Sujit Kumar.
Bhat was among the very few Kashmiri Pandits who had not left the Valley unlike rest of the community members who moved out in early 1990s after terrorism started.
Over the last one year or so, terrorists, who are sponsored and supported by Pakistan, have targeted and killed a number Kashmiri Pandits and other Hindus from other parts of the country, besides non-Kashmiris.
Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said the terrorists and those aiding and abetting them will be severely punished.
“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.
