Srinagar: Suspected militants shot dead a Kashmiri Pandit and injured another in Chotigam area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Tuesday, officials said.
They said militants fired upon the duo, Pertimber Nath Bhat son of Arjun Nath Bhat and Sunil Kumar Bhat son of Sri Ji Bhat, while they were working in an apple orchard.
Sunil died on the spot or on way to hospital while Pertimber was immediately shifted to nearby hospital for treatment, they said. A police officer said that Pertimber was later shifted to Army Hospital Srinagar.
“At about 1130 hours, Police received information about an incident at Chotipora area of Shopian where (militants) had fired upon civilians. Senior police officers alongwith reinforcement reached at the spot,” police said in a statement.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that (militants) had fired upon two civilians in an apple orchard at Chotipora area of Shopian. In this incident, two civilians identified as Pertimber Nath Bhat son of Arjun Nath Bhat and Sunil Kumar Bhat son of Sri Ji Bhat, both residents of Chotigam Shopian belonging to minority community received critical gunshot injuries,” he said, adding, “Both the injured were immediately shifted to hospital where one of the injured persons Sunil Kumar Bhat succumbed to his injuries, however, the condition of other injured person is stated to be stable.”
Police has registered a case in this regard under relevant sections of law, he said.
He said investigation is in progress and officers continue to work to establish the full circumstances of the incident. (GNS)
