Targeted killings: Bank employee, labourer shot dead in Kashmir
KV News Network/PTI
Srinagar: Terrorists shot dead a bank employee and a labourer in two separate attacks on Thursday, police said.
The banker hailed from Rajasthan was shot inside the bank premises in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Thursday, the ninth targeted killing in the Valley since May 1 and the third of a non-Muslim government employee. Later in the evening terrorists shot at two non locals at Chadoora area of Budgam district as one among the two inured later succumbed to injuries in a local hospital here.
Vijay Kumar, a manager with the Ellaqui Dehati Bank at Areh Mohanpora branch in the south Kashmir district, received grievous gunshot injuries and died on his way to hospital, officials said. The latest killing led to a chorus of condemnation from political parties across the spectrum, including the National Conference and the BJP.
Kumar, a resident of Hanumangarh in Rajasthan, had joined the Kulgam branch only a week ago. He had earlier been working in the Kokernag branch of the bank, co-owned by the Central government, the Jammu and Kashmir administration and the State Bank of India.
Security forces have cordoned off the area and a hunt has been launched to nab the attackers, the officials said.
Meanwhile, the SBI issued a statement saying the bank remains committed to ensure the safety and well-being of all its employees, including those posted in the Valley.
The EDB shall ensure that the bereaved family is provided with necessary support – financial and otherwise – on priority, it said.
Condemning the act, All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA) general secretary C H Venkatachalam said it is a matter of serious concern to all in the banking sector.
“Every now and then we get such disturbing news from one state or the other. Lot of very qualified youngsters are joining the banks for their career and better prospects. It is a pity that such incidents do happen periodically with no solution about the security of bank staff,” he said.
Canara Bank Officers’ Association general secretary Ravi Kumar, while condemning the incident, demanded strict action against those behind this killing.
Notably, two days ago, on May 31, Rajni Bala, a Hindu woman teacher from Jammu’s Samba district, was shot dead by terrorists at a government school in Gopalpora, Kulgam. On May 12, Rahul Bhat, a clerk, was shot dead inside the tehsildar’s office in Chadoora tehsil of Budgam district.
Of the eight targeted killings in Kashmir since May 1, three victims were off-duty policemen and five were civilians.
So very sorry to hear about the targeted killing of Vijay Kumar. Tweeting to condemn an attack & condole a death are becoming a mind-numbingly regular thing. It’s heartbreaking to see families destroyed like this, NC vice president Omar Abdullah said in a tweet.
Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari added that it was painful to witness targeted killings of civilians in Kashmir.
These dastardly acts of violence have devastated families… It’s shocking. Will words of condemnation be ever enough? he wrote on Twitter.
Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone termed the killing a heinous act and said he was at a loss of words to express his condemnation for such a heinous act.
Yet again extremely sad news coming in. An innocent civilian working as a manager in a bank in Kulgam has been shot dead, he said on Twitter.
Joining in the condemnation, PDP general secretary Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura said such incidents unmask the fake claims of normalcy by the administration.
Yet another life lost, deeply saddening & condemnable. This place has been turned into a battleground by the high headedness of the admin, its fake claims of normalcy stand unmasked. Situation is far from normal & immediate steps need to be taken for redressal. My condolences, the PDP leader said in a tweet.
BJP’s J-K spokesperson Altaf Thakur said the killing was a serious issue and a matter of concern.
What a shameful act yet again. This time a bank manager of Ellaqui Dehati Bank Vijay Kumar of Rajashtan falls to the bullets of terrorists at Kulgam. Now terrorists targeting public servants too. A serious issue and a matter of concern. High time for security agencies to work out a strategy to stop this vicious cycle of violence, he said.
Meanwhile, two non-locals were fired upon by terrorists on Thursday in Magraypora area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
A senior Police officer said that two non-locals were fired upon by terrorists this evening in Magraypora.
One has bullet wound in hand and other has received in shoulder. Both are stated to be stable, the officer said.
Both were immediately shifted to nearby hospital for treatment, the officer added.
“One among the two later succumbed to the injuries at a hospital here,” officials said.
Medical Superintendent SMHS hospital Dr. Kanwaljeet Singh confirmed that one among the non-locals succumbed to the injuries.
Sources identified the deceased as Dilkhush of Bihar, who was working as a labourer at Brick Kiln.
Earlier a senior Police officer said that the two non-local labourers were fired upon by militants in Magraypora area of the district.
“One had bullet wound in hand and other received firearm injury in neck area. Both were immediately shifted to nearby hospital for treatment, the officer said.
