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Rahul Bhat killing: Shock, outrage across Kashmir

Budgam, May 12: Cutting across religious and political affiliations, deep shock and outrage is being expressed across Kashmir over the killing of Rahul Bhat, a young J&K government employee, in Chadoora, Budgam today.

As already reported, gunmen barged into the Tehsil office Chadoora and fired from a close range at Rahul Bhat, who has been working there under the Prime Minister’s Rehabilitation Package (PMRP), as a clerk, J&K Police sources told news agency KNO.

“He was immediately referred to Srinagar hospital where doctors declared him dead,” they said.

LG Sinha condemns the killing in tweet

Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha tweeted: “I strongly condemn the barbaric killing of Rahul Bhat by militants at Budgam. Those behind this despicable terror attack will not go unpunished. J&K government stands in solidarity with the bereaved family in this hour of grief.”

Former CMs and other leaders condemn the dastardly act

Former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir and mainstream political leaders on Thursday condemned the killing of an employee at Tehsil office Chadoora in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

National Conference (NC) President and Member of Parliament, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, said, “I unequivocally condemn the dastardly attack on Rahul Bhatt. The sole purpose of such dastardly and heinous acts is to vitiate the atmosphere of Kashmir. I condemn the killing in the strongest possible terms. My heartfelt condolences to Rahul’s family,” he said, as per a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

National Conference (NC) Vice President and former chief minister, Omar Abdullah said that targeted killings continue and a sense of fear grows unchecked.

“I unequivocally condemn the murderous militant attack on Rahul Bhatt. Rahul was a government employee working in the Tehsil office in Chadoora where he was attacked. Targeted killings continue & a sense of fear grows unchecked. My heartfelt condolences to Rahul’s family. RIP,” Omar tweeted.

“This young man had his entire life ahead of him & to know that his life was so cruelly extinguished today is tragic. Rest in peace Rahul Bhatt,” Omar said.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti said that the killing belies the false claims of normalcy in Kashmir.

“Condemn the gruesome act  where in a kashmiri Pandit  boy  Rahul Bhat was murdered in chadoora. Another life ended and another family devastated. My heart goes out to the bereaved family in this hour of grief. It also belies the false claims of normalcy in kashmir,” Mehbooba tweeted.

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) condemned the killing of a Revenue employee, terming the act as ‘heinous and mindless’.

JKPCC has strongly condemned the killing of Revenue Employee Rahul Bhat in Tehsil Office Chadoora by unidentified gunmen, terming the incident ghastly, highly condemnable and mindless act.

The perpetrators of the heinous crime must know that they cannot achieve anything by killing innocent people to satisfy their masters. Killings in any form are unacceptable, shameful and deserve strong condemnation from every section of people, JKPCC added.

JKPCC President Ghulam Ahmad Mir and various other party leaders have expressed deep shock over the killing of Rahul Bhat by unidentified gunmen and conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

They said the security situation has worsened to the largest extent in Kashmir while slamming the Govt for failing to ensure safety of people especially members of the minority community. The leaders emphasized that the Govt must take effective measures to end the bloodshed.

JKPCC expressed solidarity with the family of slain Rahul Bhat and prayed for their courage to bear the irreparable loss.

CPI (M) leader Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami condemned  the killing of Kashmiri Pandit employee Rahul Bhat in Chadoora area of Budgam and termed the incident as unfortunate ,tragic and said such barbaric incidents have no place in a civilised society.

“Such brutal killings are harmful for the society and can’t be justified under any circumstances,” he added.

While expressing condolence to the bereaved family, he demanded an immediate end to the killings.

Peoples Conference (PC) Chairman and former minister, Sajad Gani Lone in a tweet condemned the killing of employee.

“Strongly condemn the killing of Rahul. It is difficult to read the minds of these psychopaths who indulge in such killings.  Yet another family is added to the list of victims of violence.  May the departed soul rest in peace,” Lone tweeted.

Former Cabinet Minister and Apni Party Senior Vice President Ghulam Hassan Mir expressed dismay over the killing of a Kashmiri Pandit, Rahul Bhatt who was shot at by the unidentified gunmen at Tehsil office Chadoora in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Thursday afternoon.

“Killing of Rahul a Kashmiri Pandit employee at Chadoora is a most detestable act . I strongly condemn it. My whole hearted support and sympathies with the bereaved. RIP,” Mir wrote on twitter.

In a statement to the press, Mir said that the incident aimed at disturbing the communal harmony in Jammu and Kashmir and till date conflict has claimed so many lives all across the region and this cycle of violence needs to stop at its earliest.

“I unequivocally condemn this attack while at the same time send my heartfelt sympathies to the family members of the deceased. I hope that the perpetrators of the crime are punished at the earliest,” he said.

Valley-based Kashmiri Pandits hold protests

Migrant Kashmiri Pandits (KPs), majority of them government employees working under Prime Minister’s Rehabilitation Package, Thursday hit roads at various places across Kashmir to register their protest against the killing of their colleague Rahul Bhat at Chadoora, Budgam.

The protestors also blocked the Srinagar-Jammu highway outside Vessu migrant KP colony, Qazigund in Anantnag district to protest against the killings. They also lit candles to register their protest.

One of the protesters while speaking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that the migrant KPs were being targeted earlier and now during the BJP rule as well. “If rehabilitation costs life, we will prefer to resign enmass and flee Kashmir forever,” he said, wishing not to be named. “We are being made soft targets by militants. Militants should also clear their policy. If they are out to kill all of us, they should tell us clearly. But the fact remains that the government has failed to protect us despite making tall claims.”

The protestors blocked the Srinagar-Jammu national highway at Qazigund leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded for hours. A massive protest was also held at Sheikhpora, Budgam outside the migrant KP colony where women and male members of the Pandit community sat on the middle of the road in protest against the killing of Rahul Bhat, a KP employee, who shot dead by militants while he was on duty at Tehsil office Chadoora, Budgam.

The killing of Rahul also triggered protest at migrant Pandit colony Sheikhpora, Budgam, where Rahul was putting up. Scores of fellow colleagues of Rahul sat on the road and termed the killing as a “major security lapse.”  “We aren’t secure at all. BJP government too has failed us,” the angry protestors said and demanded stern punishment to the killers.

A woman protestor, amid wails and shrieks, said that they have not come to Kashmir to get killed. “Is this rehabilitation BJP has promised us? We don’t want this rehabilitation. Police must nab the killers of Rahul. We also want to know why militants are killing us,” she said while others tried to console her.’

“Why are these killings taking place. Who are Kashmir Tigers, and why are they killing us,” a woman protester asked the Kashmir police chief. “If they want to kill us, why don’t they kill us all in one go”, protesters asked.

Another protestor said that the BJP government has miserably failed to protect the migrant KPs brought back in the name of the rehabilitation package of PM Narendera Modi. Many protestors alleged that the killing of Rahul Bhat at Tehsil office Chadoora, was a major security lapse. “How come militants managed to enter the Tehsil office and kill Rahul,” they questioned.

Another protest was held along the Pulwama-Shopian highway outside KP migrant colony Nikas. “Fail Hai, Fail Hai, administration fail Hai” slogans were raised by the protestors.  They said they would protect employees working under the PM’s package. “Government strengthen our security cover so that no such killing takes place in future,” the protestors said. Protests were also reported from northern district of Baramulla where Pandit members assembled at Pandit Colony Veerwan, who demanded justice and protection to KPs working under PM’s package.

With KNO inputs. Naveed-ul-Haq, Jehangeer Ganai, Sajid Raina contributed to this report

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