JAMMU: Hundreds of protesting displaced Kashmiri Pandit (KP) employees engaged under Prime Minister's Employment Package and seeking their relocation from the valley, on Saturday staged a massive protest on Jammu-Akhnoor road and later in Jammu City near Shiv Temple near Civil Secretariat.
The protest comes soon after Puran Krishan Bhat was fired upon by unknown terrorists near his residence in the Chowdhary Gund area of Shopian district on Saturday afternoon, resulting in his death.
The Pandits employed under Prime Minister’s employment package, are on protest at over the past five months following the killing of their colleague Rahul Bhat in Kashmir last May. Agitated over latest killing they marched towards the main road and blocked the highway.
Raising slogans against UT Administration for alleged failure to deal with the situation and to denounce the target killings of KPs by terrorists the Kashmiri Pandits stage massive protest.
One of the protestors said, "Our fears have once again come true with the latest killing. We have already fled the valley otherwise we feel many of us have been done to death."
Alleging thet UT administration was not bothered about their safety, he said: "They have been saying that the situation in the valley is not safe for them but government remained unmoved and paid no heed to their pleas for relocation."
"Today's target killing exposed the government's claims about the improved security situation in the valley," another protestor said, adding, "we have tried to reach the government through memorandums and protests but administration is acting mute."
Meanwhile, some activists of Rashtriya Bajrang Dal activist also joined the protesters and set ablaze an effigy of Pakistan to condemn the frequent target killings by terrorists in the valley.
J&K Congress, Shiv Sena Hindustan and Kashimiri Pandit Sabha have condemned the latest targetted killing in Kashmir.
J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) in a meeting held under the chairmanship of Raman Bhalla, Working President strongly condemned the killing of Puran Kishan Bhat at Shopian, today and called for urgent and effective measures to save innocent lives în Kashmir.
Party condemned the killing, which în line of a series of such shocking incidents and termed the recent situation în kashmir very grim and asked how long the nation shall tolerate the targeted killing of innocents, especially minorities în the valley, contrary to the claims of normalcy în kashmir by the centre Govt and UT administration.
JKPCC Working President Bhalla termed it as a grave failure of the home Ministry which directly deals with the law and order in the UT of J&K. Kashmiri Pandit Sabha Jammu held a meeting under the leadership of it's President K K Khosa to condemn the dastardly killing of Puran Krishan Bhat Ji in his home in Chowdhary Gund Shopian.
"The Union home minister Amit Shah must take stock of the situation and take up strong measures to control the situation which has totally gone out of hand, the members said, and added.," UT government needs to be revamped urgently and there is need to appoint some more advisors hailing from Jammu and Kashmir who have goodwill amongst the people of J&K."
Shiv Sena Hindustan J&K President Pt Rajesh Kesri also condemned killing of Kashmiri Pandit Puran Krishan Bhat by terrorists in Shopia.
Recent targetted killing in Valley in 2022
On 2 March, an independent panchayat member, Mohammad Yaqoob Dar, was shot dead in the Kulpora village of Kulgam.
On 9 March, terrorists fired at People's Democratic Party (PDP) sarpanch Sameer Ahmad Bhat at his home in Khonmoh on Srinagar's outskirts.
On 21 March, terrorists fired at Tajamul Mohiuddin Rather, near his residence in Gothpora area of Budgam in central Kashmir. Rather was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
On 12 April, a civilian, Satish Kumar Singh, was shot dead by suspected terrorists in Kulgam.
On 15 April, Manzoor Ahmad Bangroo, a sarpanch, was shot dead in Baramulla.
On 12 May, Rahul Bhat was killed by terrorists in Kashmir's Chadoora town. He was killed at the Tehsil office, a place safeguarded by security forces.
On 17 May, Ranjit Singh, a resident of Bakra Rajouri, was killed, and three others were injured in a grenade attack at a wine shop in Jammu and Kashmir's (J&K)'s Baramulla district.
On 25 May, 35-year-old actress Amreen Bhat was shot dead by terrorists at her residence in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam.
On 31 May, a teacher, identified as Rajni Bala, was shot dead by militants at a High School in the Gopalpora area of Kulgam district.
On 2 June, a Bank Manager, Vijay Kumar from Rajasthan was shot on the premises of Elaqahi Dehati Bank in Kulgam district.
On 2 June, hours after Vijay Kumar's killing, two non-local labourers were shot at Magraypora in the Chadoora area of central Kashmir's Budgam district.
