Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 17 : Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha said those responsible for the killing of a Kashmiri Pandit, Sunil Kumar, will not be spared.
Kumar was shot dead and his brother was injured in yet another targeted attack by militants in Shopian district in the morning.
“Pained beyond words on despicable terror attack on civilians in Shopian My thoughts are with the family of Sunil Kumar,. The attack deserves strongest condemnation from everyone. Terrorists responsible for barbaric act will not be spared’’, the LG’s office tweeted.
National Conference (NC) vice president, Omar Abdullah said “I condemn the militant attack in Shopian unequivocally… My condolences to the family.”
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti alleged that every resident of Kashmir has become “cannon fodder” in Delhi’s quest for “manufactured normalcy”. “Terribly sorry to hear about the targeted killing in Shopian. Condolences to the deceased’s family. GoI (Government of India) continues to behave like an ostrich with its head buried deep under the sand’’, she tweeted.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesman Altaf Thakur said that killers should be punished. “Terror has no religion.” Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad urged the administration to take stringent measures to safeguard the lives of innocent civilians. “I strongly condemn the militant attack on Kashmiri Pandit brothers,’’ Azad said.
President People’s Conference Sajad Lone condemned the killing in Shopian. “Yet another dastardly attack by coward terrorists in Shopian. We strongly condemn this heinous act of violence. My condolences to the family,’’Lone said.
Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari termed the killing an act of cowardice aimed to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere. CPI(M) leader and former legislator, M Y Tarigami asked how long this bloodletting will go on.
Meanwhile Kashmiri Pandit Sangharash Samiti (KPSS) asked the community members to leave the Valley in the wake of increased attacks on them by the militants.
“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 the Valley,” KPSS chief, Sanjay Tickoo said.
Tickoo said he has urged all Kashmiri Pandits to leave the Valley and move to safer places like Jammu and Delhi.
“We have seen this for the last 32 years now. The Government has failed in providing security to the minorities, especially Kashmiri Pandits. How long are we going to die like this? Enough is enough,” he said.
The KPSS chief said the victims of Tuesday’s attack had approached senior officials of the administration to move them to safer places in view of the intelligence inputs that suggested that terrorists might target more minority community members.
“It is ironic that the officials told them that they have to live in their villages. What is the deal here? They have inputs about possible attacks and yet they do not secure us,” he said.
Tickoo wondered about the intent of the militants in targeting the Kashmiri Pandits.
“Why did they not strike during the Independence Day Parade? Why was there no attack on Amarnath yatra? How come tourists are safe in Kashmir but Kashmiri Pandits are being targeted?” he asked.
Asked about the impact of his call for the exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits, Tickoo said he was ready to face it.
“The Government can book me under the Public Safety Act (PSA),” he added.
BJP national general secretary, Tarun Chugh strongly condemned the attack on Kashmiri Pandit brothers in Shopian.
BJP leader said, “ I strongly condemn terror attack on the pandit brothers in Shopian .My thoughts are with the family of Sunil Kumar. The barbaric act of killing innocent people is against humanity and perpetrators of this cowardly act shall be brought to justice. All those part of terrorist ecosystem which led to the killing of the innocent civilian who were working in their fields won’t be spared.”
He added that security forces won’t leave the perpetrators to survive for a long time.” They will meet their end soon,” he said.
He also said , “Terrorists actually want to derail development, trust of people of J&K and peace in J&K which was made possible due to various initiatives under the directions of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
JKPCC president Ghulam Ahmed Mir strongly condemned the militant attack in Shopian in which Sunil Kumar was killed and his brother was injured. He also expressed grief over the death of seven ITBP personnel in tragic road accident in Pahalgam and termed it a great loss. Mir termed the killing of Sunil Kumar a dastardly act and strongly condemned it.
JKPCC working president Raman Bhalla has strongly condemned the attack on Pandit brothers in Kashmir and said the Kashmir situation is turning worrisome day by day due to continued killings of innocent people as there has been a total atmosphere of insecurity in Valley and minorities are left with no option but to migrate. He said that Centre and UT Government has failed to check the target killings.
JKPC senior leader and youth provincial secretary North Kashmir, Tasleem Akhtar has also strongly condemned the killing of civilian Kashmiri Pandit Sunil Bhat in Shopian. She said it is very tragic to see the senseless bloodsheds of innocents. “Our fellow Kashmiris are suffering due to acts of violence and there seems to be no end to this madness’’, she added.
Former Minster and National Conference Leader Ajay Sadhotra has also strongly condemned the attack on Kashmiri Pandit brothers in Valley in which one person died and another is battling for his life. He termed it most inhuman and barbaric act saying no words are enough to express shock and grief over demise of Sunil Kumar.
J&K High Court Bar Association has also strongly condemned the selective killings of Hindu minorities in Valley. The Association held a meeting here, today under the chairmanship of M K Bhardwaj its president in which the attack on Kashmiri Pandits living in Valley was termed a cowardice act. The meeting which was attended by senior members of the Bar said despite the repeated attacks on minorities in the Valley the Government has not learnt any lesson and it has completely failed to provide appropriate security and safety to innocent Government employees and citizens there.
Apni Party’s Media advisor Farooq Andrabi has also strongly condemned the terrorist attack in which a Kashmiri Pandit was killed and his brother was injured in Shopian. He also condemned a grenade attack on a minority habitation in the Gopalpora area of Chadoora in Budgam district yesterday in which a civilian from minority community was injured.
Vir Ji Bhat a senior activist of Panun Kashmir (PK) who happens to be the cousin of the Sunil Kumar said despite their one cousin was attacked some months back by terrorists in the same village the Government failed to provide security to the families. He said the Government was totally responsible for the attack as it played with the lives of innocent KPs who stayed back in Kashmir during last 32 years of turmoil after the majority of their community members were forced to flee. He alleged the Government even failed to pay compensation to their another cousin who suffered seven bullet injuries in militant attack some months back. He wanted to know why the Government has not taken care of the KPs and other minorities’ security in Valley.
Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) has also strongly condemned the attack on two brothers belonging to minority Kashmiri Pandit community in Shopian area in which Sunil Kumar was killed while his brother is serious. KPC president, Kuyndan Kashmir accused Government of security lapses and said that it has totally failed to protect the lives of miniscule minority of KPs in Kashmir despite knowing fully that they are the safe targets of militants.
Magam Bangil Sabha president , Raj Nath Raina and senior KP leader, P L Koul Budgami have also strongly condemned the killing of Sunil Kumar and demanded that all minorities in Valley be shifted to safer places to ensure their security. The two leaders said that despite increasing attacks on minority Hindus in Valley for over last one year the Government has failed to provide security to them.
Meanwhile Jagti Tenement Committee and Soan Kashmir Front led by Shadi Lal Pandita held a protest in Jagti township against the attack on Hindu minorities in Valley in which one person lost his life and blamed the Government for security lapses.
Kashmir Khatri Hindu Maha Sabha led by Ramesh Chander Mahajan has also strongly condemned killing of Sunil Kumar and demanded security for the minorities in Valley.
Unit president, JDS Mast Nath Yogi has also strongly condemned the attack on minority Hindus in Valley in which one person died and another was seriously injured.
JKNPP has also strongly condemned attack and killing of one member of Minority community of Kashmiri Pandits in Valley. Provincial president of the party Capt (retd) Anil Grover said this shows that fear psychosis is again being created among minorities in Valley and administration has failed to provide protection to them.
Vindo Pandit a KP leader has also strongly condemned the attack on minorities in Shopian area of Kashmir.
Mission Statehood J&K chief Sunil Dimple led a protest against the attack on Kashmir Pandits in Valley and torched the flags of Pakistan here today. He alleged that the Government has failed to protect the minorities in valley.
Provincial president, Apni Party Jammu, Manjit Singh has also strongly condemned the attack on Minority Hindus in Valley and said the targeted killings are aimed to weakening the bond between eh two communities in Kashmir.
Displaced Kashmir Sikh Conference president, Harmohinder Singh has also strongly condemned the attack and demanded security for left over minorities in Valley while the Sheikhpora migrant colony inmates held a protest against the killings in Shopian saying it is an eye opener for the Government about the security scenario in Valley.
All Kashmiri Pandit United Front (AKPUF) held a protest at Durga Nagar today against the targeted killings and accused Government of its total failure in protecting the lives of minorities especially Kashmiri Pandits in Valley. The protest was led by president of the Front P L Sudeshi while those who spoke on the occasion included its general secretary Prem Nath Pandita and Advisor Prof G L Koul. They demanded fool proof security for the non migrant Pandits and other Hindu minorities in Valley besides immediate relocation of PM package employees to Jammu.
Kashmiri Pandit Sabha (KPS) led by K K Khosa has strongly condemned the attack on minority Pandits in Shopian by militants in which one person was killed and his brother was seriously injured.
The Sabha which met here, today expressed its shock and grief over the killing of a community member and increasing attacks on Hindu minorities in Valley. He said it is a cause of concern for the community that one after another targeted killings are taking place in valley especially after Manoj Sinha took over the reins of the UT.
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