Kashmiri Pandit shot dead by militants in JK's Shopian
Srinagar (PTI):A Kashmiri Pandit was shot dead by militants in the Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, officials said.
Puran Krishan Bhat was attacked near his residence in the Chowdhary Gund area of south Kashmir district, they said, adding that doctors declared Krishan brought dead after he was shifted to Shopian hospital.
The area has been cordoned off and a hunt has been launched to nab the assailants, they added.
"#Terrorists fired upon a #civilian (minority) Shri Puran Krishan Bhat while he was on way to orchard in Chowdari Gund #Shopian. He was immediately shifted to hospital for treatment where he #succumbed. Area cordoned off. Search in progress," Kashmir Zone Police wrote on Twitter.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and political parties condemned the killing.
"Attack on Puran Krishan Bhat by terrorists in Shopian is a dastardly act of cowardice. My heartfelt condolences to bereaved family. I assure the people that the perpetrators and those aiding and abetting terrorists will be severely punished," Sinha wrote on Twitter.
Political parties also condemned the attack.
"Unequivocally condemn the brazen, cowardly attack on Pooran Krishan Bhat in Shopian, in which he lost his life. Heartfelt commiserations to his family and loved ones. May his soul rest in eternal peace," National Conference (NC) tweeted.
CPI(M) leader MY Tarigami said the government must ensure fool-proof security for the minorities in the valley.
"Pained beyond words by the despicable attack which snuffed out life of Puran Krishan Bhat. There does not seem any let up in the killing of innocent people. The government must ensure foolproof security to the minorities," he said in a tweet.
BJP General Secretary (Org) Ashok Koul also condemned the killing.
In a statement, Koul said it was one more cowardly attack on Kashmiri Pandits and "these anti-national elements will never be successful in their wrong doings".
Koul termed killing as barbaric and offered his condolences to the family.
"These things will not be tolerated anymore as these attacks are aimed to disturb the peace in the region," Koul said.
Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari also condemned the "inhumane attack" on the community.
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Facing criticism over ‘poll stunt’ remark, Channi questions Centre on Pulwama terror attack probe
Chandigarh, May 6: Under fire over his "poll stunt" remark, Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi on Monday said he was proud of the country's soldiers but targeted the Centre over the 2019 Pulwama terror strike, saying the government could not ascertain who carried out the attack.
The former Punjab chief minister on Sunday called the Poonch terror attack in which an IAF soldier was killed a "stunt" meant to make the BJP win the Lok Sabha elections.
The remark by the Congress candidate from Jalandhar seat triggered a row with Union minister Anurag Thakur asking the Congress leadership to seek an apology from Channi for insulting soldiers with this deplorable statement.
In a video message on Monday, Channi said, "We are proud of our soldiers who protect our country."
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Referring to his statement made on Sunday, Channi said ahead of the last parliamentary polls, 40 jawans were killed but the government could not yet ascertain who carried out the terror attack.
"Who was responsible for that attack," he asked.
Forty Central Reserve Police Force troopers died in a terror attack in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir on February 14, 2019.
"Again the elections have come and again our jawans have been attacked," said Channi as he was referring to the terror attack in Poonch.
"I want to ask the government who are those people who get such attacks done. Why don't you bring them forward? Why does intelligence failure take place," he asked.
Channi said Sunil Jakhar, who was earlier with the Congress and now with the BJP, had then even demanded the resignation of the prime minister over the death of 40 soldiers.
"Today again a soldier got martyred and I want to ask Jakhar ji what is your stand now," he said.
"Why are our soldiers getting martyred and why is there intelligence failure of the government," he asked.
In Jalandhar on Sunday while replying to a question on the attack on the Indian Air Force's convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch, Channi had said, "'Yeh stuntbaazi ho rahi hai, hamle nahi ho rahe' (These are all stunts, not attacks)."
"Whenever elections are near, such stunts are performed to make the BJP win. There is no truth in it," he had said.
"The BJP knows how to play with people's lives and bodies," he had alleged.
One soldier was killed and four were injured as terrorists ambushed an IAF convoy in Poonch district on Saturday, three weeks ahead of polling in Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency.
The officials suspect the involvement of the same group of terrorists who ambushed troops in adjoining Bufliaz on December 21 last year, leaving four soldiers dead and three injured.
Union minister Thakur strongly condemned Channi's remarks and asked the Congress whether it will insult soldiers to win elections.
