Those Cowards Shot My Father From Behind, Says Daughter Of Slain Kashmir Sarpanch Ajay Pandita

The daughter of Ajay Pandita, the Congress sarpanch who was killed by unidentified terrorists in Anantnag district on June 8, has called the incident a cowardly act and has demanded a probe into the killing.

Niyanta Pandita said, "They shot my father at the back... they are cowards. I demand an inquiry into the killing of my father. Why was he not given security?" "He was one of the few Kashmiri Pandits who had stayed in the Valley. He was a brave man and always served the nation without fear. I am concerned about the safety of my family. I will continue with my studies and fulfill my father's dream," she added.

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"I felt proud when my father's mortal remains were carried in tricolor. He had seen a dream for India, and now India has to do something for him. My father is 'Amar' and 'Shaheed'," she said.

#WATCH: "They shot my father at the back... they are cowards," says Niyanta Pandita, daughter of Ajay Pandita, the Congress Sarpanch who was shot dead by terrorists in Anantnag on June 8. #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/eDBsMFz0u1

¡ª ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2020

Unidentified terrorists had fired upon Pandita at Lokbawan in Anantnag. He later succumbed to injuries at a hospital. He was the sarpanch of the Lukbawan panchayat halqa in Larkipora area. He was the second Congress sarpanch in this area to be killed in the recent past.

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Following his killing, a group of elected panchayat members belonging to the Pandit community has demanded adequate security to perform their duties in the valley. The All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Conference (AJKPC) president Anil Sharma said the administration needs to come forward and reassure the elected members who are left panicky by the latest killing and mulling resignation.

"It is very unfortunate that two days have passed but not a single person from the administration or the Centre found it fit to visit the slain sarpanch's family to express grief with his two daughters and elderly parents," Manoj Pandita, another sarpanch said. "Some of us were provided accommodation without security in Srinagar and left vulnerable to the attacks. The slain sarpanch repeatedly demanded security but his pleas were ignored time and again which ultimately cost his life," he said.

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The Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) has condemned the assassination of Pandita and has asked for an inquiry to find why there was a lapse in providing security to him when he had requested so based on the threat perceptions. "The murder was one in a series of atrocities committed against our community. Ajay Pandita ji had returned to his Kashmir, our Kashmir and was serving his community," Utpal Kaul, GKPD India coordinator said.