Target killings new challenge for forces in Kashmir
Srinagar, June 4 :Targeted attacks on minorities and non locals has been sweeping Kashmir over the last few months throwing a new challenge to the security forces.
According to officials, this year 12 civilians, mostly minorities, non locals and Panchayati Raj institutions members have been shot dead in a series of targeted attacks. Nearly a dozen mostly non local workers have also been wounded in targeted attacks.
Since May, six civilians have been shot dead.
The latest spate of targeted attacks are happening at a time when security forces have launched a massive offensive against the militants and their sympathizers across Kashmir. This year, over 90 militants including some top commanders have been killed in Kashmir.
Officials said the targeted killings soon after J&K’s special status was scrapped in August 2019. Many observers see these attacks linked to the abrogation of Article 370.
The first targeted killing took place nearly three months after the repeal of Article 370. On October 29, 2019, five Muslim labourers from were West Bengal were shot dead in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The killings saw a comeback in 2021.
In January 2021, a jeweler Satpal Nischal was shot dead inside his shop in Srinagar. Two months later the son of the owner of a popular eatery in Srinagar , Aakash Mehra, was shot dead.
In October 2021, militants carried a series of targeted attacks that rattled the security set up.
A prominent Pharmacist M L Bindroo was shot dead at his shop in October. The same evening a non-local panipuri seller from Bihar was shot dead.
The next day the principal of Government Higher Secondary School, Sangam in Srinagar , Supinder Kour, and her colleague, Deepak Chand, were shot dead in the school.
More attacks in the same month left another four non-local workers dead
This year militants started targeting representatives of panchayat institutions. In March, three panchayat members were killed in targeted attacks.
The targeted attacks on minorities saw a comeback in April. A civilian Rajput Satish Kumar was killed on April 13 in south Kashmir. Almost a month later Kahsmir Pandit Rahul Bhat was shot dead inside his office at Chadoora Budgam. Since five people including an Hindu employee at a wine shop, a Muslim TV performer, a Hindu school teacher, a non local bank manager and a non local labourer have been shot dead triggering intense anxiety among the Kashmiri Pandits and non natives.
Many Pandits have already left the transit camps in the valley.
Security officials claim that targeted killings are aimed at “spreading fear” among the people.
“Terrorists are frustrated and that is why they are targeting innocent civilians including members of minority communities and women,” said a police officer.