Srinagar: Suspected militants on Thursday shot dead a Bank Manager from Rajasthan and a labourer from Bihar while as a worker from Punjab was injured in two separate incidents in less than 12 hours in Kashmir Valley.
A top Police officer told GNS that the Bank Manager of Elaqahi Dehati Bank, Branch of Kulgam, Vijay Kumar, was fired upon by a militant this morning in Arreh area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
He was immediately shifted to a nearby hospital in critical condition. However a doctor at district hospital Kulgam told GNS Kumar was brought dead to the facility. A CCTV footage of the incident shows that a militant fires few pistol shots from point blank range inside the bank while Kumar was working in his office chamber. Soon after carrying the attack, the militant flees without firing any more shot. Soon after the attack, police and security forces cordoned off the entire area to nab the attackers, officials said.
Meanwhile two non-locals were fired upon by militants on Thursday late evening in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
Medical Superintendent SMHS hospital Dr. Kanwaljeet Singh confirmed to GNS that one among the non-locals succumbed to the injuries. Sources identified the deceased as Dilkhush of Bihar, who was working as a labourer at Brick Kiln.
Earlier a senior Police officer said that the two non-locals were fired upon by militants in Magraypora area of the district.
One had bullet wound in hand and other received firearm injury in neck area. Both were immediately shifted to nearby hospital for treatment, the officer said. The injured has been identified as Goria, a resident of Gurdaspur, Punjab.
“(Militants) fired upon 02 outside labourers working in a Brick Kiln in Chadoora area of Budgam. The duo was shifted to hospital for treatment where one among them succumbed,” police said in a tweet.
Soon after the attack whole area has been cordoned off to nab the attackers. More details will follow soon.
Meanwhile, political parties condemned the killing of the manager in ‘unequivocal terms’.
“I unequivocally condemn the brutal killing of Vijay Kumar, a Bank Manager in Kulgam. The killing spree and the pervasive fear among civilians, minorities and other soft targets gives a lie to the claims of the government that everything was Ok in Kashmir,” National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said.
PDP in a tweet said: “Mayhem! Two more civilians shot at in Budgam. Total breakdown of Law & Order. Will the govt still parrot the narrative of normalcy or has it internalised its own propaganda. Condolences with Dilkhush’s family & praying for speedy recovery to the other.Has peace been ‘established’?”
Earlier party chief and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in a tweet said: “Condemn yet another targeted killing today of Vijay Kumar, a bank manager working in Kulgam. Heartfelt condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace.”
CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami termed the killing of the bank manager as barbaric and said: “No words are enough to condemn such barbaric acts. Such acts only suit the enemies of Kashmir.
Jammu Kashmir Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “I am shocked to hear about this sad news. Seeing innocent people falling prey to the bullets every now and then is heart-wrenching. The targeted killing spree is becoming a routine here. Everybody must raise their voice against these heinous crimes.” (GNS)