Pulwama (Srinagar): In yet another incident of target killing in the valley, a Kashmiri pandit was shot dead by terrorists on Sunday in the Achan village of south Kashmir's Pulwama district. Sanjay Sharma, 40, who worked as a bank security guard, was fatally injured when some unidentified terrorists shot him in the chest at point-blank range while he was going to the local market at around 11 am on Sunday.
The victim, son of Kashi Nath Sharma, was rushed to Pulwama Hospital in critical condition where doctors declared him as brought dead. Following this incident, several Army guards were posted in the village. The overall security was increased and the area was cordoned off to search and nab the attackers.
Following the tragic incident, locals in the village registered their protest and demanded justice for the slain Pandit. The protesting people were shouting that terrorism should be stopped in the Kashmir valley so that "we, Muslims, Pandits and the Sikhs, could live together peacefully". The protest was organized by the local people of Achan in which both the elderly and youth participated. They condemned the terrorist attacks and raised slogans against them.
The attack came four days after terrorists opened fire and injured another man, Asif Ganai, outside a mosque in the Anantnag district. He was rushed to the hospital and survived the attack. Around six Kashmiri pandits were killed in separate incidents of terror attacks last year. In October 2022, a Kashmiri pandit was shot dead by terrorists while he was going to the orchard in south Kashmir's Shopian district.
The victim Puran Krishan Bhat was a farmer by profession. Before that in August, another Kashmiri pandit, from the same district was shot dead by terrorists. Slain Suneel Pandit's wife Suneeta was given an appointment letter on Saturday by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
The latest killing of the Kashmiri Pandit in Pulwama evoked condemnation from political parties. "It was very sad to hear of the demise of Sanjay Pandith of Achan in Pulwama district of South Kashmir and it should be unequivocally condemned," said Omar Abdullah, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, in a tweet. Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee expressed deep shock and termed the incident "heart wrenching, mindless and cowardly act on the part of gunmen".
"The perpetrators must be identified and be given severe punishment and the killing of innocent people deserves strong condemnation by every section of the people," said JKPCC in a statement. BJP spokesman Altaf Thakur also condemned the killing. Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad also condemned the killing of the Kashmiri Pandit, saying it was a matter of grave concern. "Any killing, especially a targeted killing, is a matter of grave concern and condemnable. We condemn it," Azad told reporters.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said every targeted killing is condemnable, be that of a Kashmiri Pandit or a Muslim or a Sikh and whether the victim is from Jammu or Kashmir. However, he said the most unfortunate part is that while many people were arrested in connection with such incidents over the last 30 years, "not one killer has been arrested for these targeted killings in the last two years".
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