Shopian, Aug 16: In yet another militant attack, terrorists shot dead a Kashmiri Pandit and injured his brother in an apple orchard in the Chotipora area of South Kashmir’s Shopian Tuesday, said the police.
The deceased was identified as Sunil Kumar and his injured brother as Pintu Kumar, the police said. Pintu Kumar was shifted to a hospital, the police added.
"#Terrorists fired upon civilians in an apple orchard in Chotipora area of #Shopian. One person died and one injured. Both belong to minority community. Injured person has been shifted to hospital. Area #cordoned off. Further details shall follow," the Kashmir Zone Police tweeted.
Soon after the attack, a joint team of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Indian Army and paramilitary forces cordoned off the area to trace the militants behind the attack.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the attack on the Kashmiri Pandits. "Pained beyond words on despicable terror attack on civilians in Shopian. My thoughts are with the family of Sunil Kumar. Praying for speedy recovery of injured. The attack deserves strongest condemnation from everyone. Terrorists responsible for barbaric act will not be spared," tweeted Sinha’s office.
BJP President in Jammu and Kashmir Ravinder Raina said, "Coward Pakistani terrorists targetted minority Hindus. Two brothers -- Kashmiri Hindus -- Sunil Kumar and Pintu were targeted by coward Pakistani terrorists. Pakistan wants a bloodbath in Kashmir, Pakistani terrorists are the enemies of the people of Kashmir. Pakistan wants to turn Kashmir into graveyards but we won't allow it to fulfil its nefarious designs."
This came after the security forces neutralized the terrorists who killed Rahul Bhat and Amreen Bhat.
Last week, a migrant labourer from Bihar was shot dead in the Sumbal town of Bandipora district. A labourer — also from Bihar — was killed and two others injured in a grenade attack at Pulwama’s Gadoora on August 4. At least 25 people, including four non-local residents, have lost their lives in targeted killings this year.