>Militants, their sympathizers will be given ‘unforgettable response: LG Sinha
Farooq, Omar, Mehbooba, Sajad Lone, Altaf Bukhari condemn
Srinagar: A 36-year-old female teacher, Rajni Bala, from Samba was shot dead by unknown gunmen suspected to be militants in Kulgam district of south Kashmir.
“At about 1035 hours, police received information about a (militant) incident near Government High School Gopalpora area of Kulgam district where (militants) had fired upon a Hindu lady teacher identified as Rajni Bala, 36 years old, wife of Raj Kumar resident of Samba, Jammu (A/P Chawalgam Kulgam),” a police spokesperson said in a statement.
“In this incident she had received critical gunshot injuries and was evacuated to hospital however, she succumbed to her injuries,” hes aid.
He said Police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and initiated investigation.
“Officers continue to work to establish the full circumstances of the (case) and (militants) involved in this gruesome crime will be soon identified and neutralized,” he said, adding, “The whole area has been cordoned off with the help of reinforcement and search in the area is going on.”
Reacting to attack on the teacher, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha termed it “most reprehensible act”. “My deepest condolences to the bereaved family.” He said that militants and their sympathizers will be given “unforgettable response for dastardly attack
National Conference Party President, Member of Parliament from Srinagar Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Vice President Omar Abdullah condemned the brutal killing.
While condemning the killing of Rajni from Samba, Dr Farooq said, “I condemn the dastardly killings unreservedly and express my unison with her family. The perpetrators, who have committed this heinous act, have no religion. No religion condones violence. Nothing justifies such bloodshed.”
While describing the killing as cold blooded murder which cannot be compensated by anything he said, “I express heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and pray to Almighty to give the bereaved family the strength to bear the loss in this hour of grief.”
Condemning the brutal killing of a school teacher, Omar in a statement said, “This is yet another targeted killing in a long list of recent attacks directed at unarmed civilians. Words of condemnation & condolence ring hollow as do the assurances of the government that they will not rest till the situation normalises. May the deceased rest in peace.”
Former Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said that despite GoIs “fake claims about Kashmir being normal, it’s obvious that targeted civilian killings are on the rise and a deep cause of concern”. “Condemn this act of cowardice which sadly plays into the vicious anti-Muslim narrative spun by BJP,” she said in a tweet.
Apni Party (JKAP) President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari termed the killing as a “heinous crime” by the militants.
He said, “The targeted killing spree has created havoc and absolute insecurity among the masses. Nobody is able to understand why innocent people are being gunned down. Everyone, irrespective of his or her religious belief and political ideology is frightened in the Valley.”
Rajni Bala’s killing is the seventh targeted killing in Kashmir in the month of May, he said. “Earlier, six innocent people including Kashmir Pandit Rahul Bhat and three off-duty policemen were killed in the same manner.”
JKPCC chairman Sajad Gani Lone tweeted: “Cowardice has yet again plummeted to shameless depths. A teacher- an innocent female hailing from Samba has been shot dead in Kulgam. May her soul rest in peace.”