Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 6: The online fundraiser for family of Kashmiri Sarpanch Ajay Pandita who was shot dead by terrorists on June 8 has received over Rs 10 lakh. The fundraiser was initiated by filmmaker and social activist Ashoke Pandit along with serial entrepreneur and activist Rohit Kachroo and Ex Senior bureaucrat and social activist, Kiran Wattal on a crowd funding platform called ‘CrowdKash’.
Ajay Pandita, aged 40, Sarpanch of the Larkipora area in Anantnag district was shot at by the militants in his native village. He was immediately rushed to Government Medical College, Anantnag where doctors declared him as brought dead. Various Kashmiri Pandit outfits condemned the cold blooded murder and said that it was an attempt to create a “fear psychosis” among the community members as was done in the Valley in 1990s.
It was the first such killing of a minority community member in 16 years, Kashmir Pandit outfits said, and alleged that it was an attempt to create a “fear psychosis” among the community members as was done in the Valley in 1990s.
The fundraiser notes that he leaves behind a family of five. “The killing of the Sarpanch, Ajay Pandita is an attempt to induce fear in the minds of people who stand for the country. Ajay Pandita Bharti is survived by his wife, two daughters, father and mother. Lets support them”, it read.
Top Bollywood actor Anupam Kher, Indian cricketer, Suresh Raina among 465 others have endorsed and contributed to the campaign.
Speaking about the fundraiser, Ashoke Pandit who took this initiative and is the chief campaigner, said, “No amount of money can bring back a lost life, but we feel that we as a nation have a duty to stand by and support the family in whatever means possible. The funds raised from the campaign would be directly transferred into account of Ajay Pandita’s wife and will be used for the family’s welfare, “Pandit added.
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