Srinagar: In the fourth targeted attack this month, militants shot dead a woman government employee from Jammu inside her school in Kulgam district of Kashmir region on Tuesday, triggering widespread condemnation.
The latest killing has sent the Jammu and Kashmir administration into a tizzy, especially as it is yet to calm down the anger over the killing of Kashmiri Pandit employee Rahul Bhat earlier this month.
The latest attack took place inside a government school in Kulgam. Police said the school teacher, Rajni, a Hindu and a resident of Samba in Jammu, was shot and critically wounded inside the High School at Gopalpora in Kulgam.
A police spokesman said she received critical gunshot injuries and later succumbed to her injuries.
“..Terrorists involved in this gruesome terror crime will be soon identified and neutralised,” a police tweet said. This is the second targeted attack on an employee in Kashmir this month. On May 12, a Kashmiri Pandit employee, Rahul Bhat, was shot dead inside his office at Chadoora Budgam.
On May 17, militants lobbed a grenade at a wine shop in Baramulla in which an employee was killed and three of his colleagues were injured. On May 25, a lady artist, Amreen Bhat, was shot dead at her home in Budgam district.
Three off duty policemen have also been killed in targeted attacks this month. Tuesday’s killing of a woman school teacher sparked instant protests and condemnations from Kashmiri mainstream parties. A group of Kashmiri Pandits staged a protest at Indra Nagar locality of Srinagar against the killing.
Condemning the incident, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said despite “fake claims” by the BJP about Kashmir being normal, it is obvious that targeted civilian killings are on the rise.
“Despite GOI’s fake claims about Kashmir being normal, it is obvious that targeted civilian killings are on the rise and a deep cause of concern. Condemn this act of cowardice which sadly plays into the vicious anti-Muslim narrative spun by BJP,” she tweeted.
National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah condemned the attack.
“Very sad. This is yet another targeted killing in a long list of recent attacks directed at unarmed civilians. Words of condemnation and condolence ring hollow as do the assurances of the government that they will not rest till situation normalises. May the deceased rest in peace,” he tweeted.
Peoples Conference Chairman Sajad Lone termed it a coward act.
“Cowardice has yet again plummeted to shameless depths. A teacher – an innocent female hailing from Samba – has been shot dead in Kulgam. May her soul rest in peace,” he tweeted.
