Srinagar, June 2: Widespread anxiety and concern have gripped Kashmir, especially among those hailing from other states and working in the region here, following the killing of Vijay Kumar, a bank manager in earlier on Thursday.
Politicians and common citizens, cutting across party and ideological lines, are condemning the act and see it undermining the composite and diverse culture of Kashmir.
As already widely reported, a bank manager from Rajasthan was shot dead by suspected militants in South Kashmir’s Kulgam Thursday, days after a woman teacher was killed outside a school in the district, according to the police.
The militants fired at the bank manager, identified as Vijay Kumar from Hanumangarh, of the Ellaqui Dehati Bank (EDB) at the Areh Mohanpora village in Kulgam. Mr Kumar was critically wounded in the attack and shifted to a hospital where the doctors declared him dead.
“Terrorists fired upon a bank employee (manager) at Ellaqie Dehati Bank at Areh Mohanpora in Kulgam district. He received grievous gunshot injuries in this terror incident. He is a resident of Hanumangarh Rajasthan. Area cordoned off. Further details shall follow,” tweeted Jammu and Kashmir Police.
The killings have rattled the J&K administration that is already grappling with protests by Kashmiri Pandit employees appointed under the Prime Minister’s package and posted in the Valley. The employees have been demanding their transfer out of the Kashmir Valley.
Several other political leaders including Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Altaf Bukhari and others have condemned the killing and have expressed concern over the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the Valley.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Congress Thursday condemned Vijay’s killing and lashed out at the Centre for its alleged failure to ensure safety and security of the people.
“The central government has utterly failed to ensure the safety and security of common people in kashmir, which is very unfortunate and calls for an urgent and effective strategy to check innocent killings,” the Congress leader said.
(With inputs from PTI)
