Funeral Of Kashmiri Pandit Govt Employee Killed Held In Budgam; Terrorists Kill Cop In Pulwama

The last rites of Rahul Bhat, a Kashmiri Pandit and a government employee who was shot dead by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district, were performed on Friday.

Bhat an employee of Chadoora Tehsil office was shot at by terrorists, in what appeared to be a targeted killing, at the Tehsil office in Budgam on Thursday.

AFP

He was brought to Srinagar's SMHS hospital where he was declared dead.

Anger over killing of Kashmiri Pandit

Locals expressed their anger over the killing and demanded security for the Kashmiri Hindus living in the Valley.

"Kashmiri Pandits should be given shelter at one place and jobs should be given in the nearby areas along with security. Only then they will remain safe. It is naturally a targeted killing. Barging inside the office and looking out for him is a targeted killing. This is being done to stop them from returning to Kashmir again," a local resident told ANI.

AFP

Another local Rakesh Bhat, who was present at the cremation ground said that the Kashmiri Hindus should not be sent back to Kashmir and should rather be sheltered in Jammu safe camps.

Kashmiri Pandit Killing: Police foil KP members¡¯ protest march towards Sgr Airport pic.twitter.com/CICz6cob22

¡ª Basit Zargar (????) (@basiitzargar) May 13, 2022

Protest march stopped by police

A group of Kashmiri Pandit employees also held a protest march on Friday against the killing of Bhat.

However, their march towards the Srinagar International Airport was intercepted by the police who used a few tear smoke shells and mild lathi-charge to disperse them.

AFP

On Thursday, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the "barbaric killing".

"I strongly condemn the barbaric killing of Rahul Bhat by terrorists at Budgam. Those behind this despicable terror attack will not go unpunished. J-K government stands in solidarity with the bereaved family in this hour of grief", the Office of the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor said in a statement.

AP

Police constable shot dead

Meanwhile, a Constable of Jammu and Kashmir Police, who was shot at by a terrorist at his residence on Friday, has succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

The victim, Riyaz Ahmad Thoker, was a resident of Gudoora village of Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama.

"Special Police Officer (SPO) Riyaz Ahmad Thoker who was shot at and injured by a terrorist in the Gudaroo area of Pulwama succumbs to his injuries," Jammu and Kashmir Police informed.

Kashmir Zone Police, in a tweet, paid tribute to Thoker, and said, "Injured Police Constable Reyaz Ahmad Thoker succumbed to his injuries at hospital and attained martyrdom. We pay rich tributes to the martyr and stand by his family at this critical juncture."

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