IGP Kashmir visits Kulgam, chairs security review meet; directs officers to identify, kill attacker involved in Kumar’s killing; orders joint day, night patrolling, surprise area domination; CCTV footage of attack goes viral; Omar, Mehbooba, Sajad, others condemn killing
A Bank Manager of Elaqahi Dehati Bank, Branch Kulgam, was shot dead in Southern district of Kashmir on Thursday.
An official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a Bank manager of Elaqahi Dehati Bank was fired upon by militants when he was on duty at Arreh Mohanpora Branch in Kulgam.
The injured identified as Vijay Kumar of Rajasthan was immediately shifted to hospital for treatment.
An official from district hospital Kulgam said that he was brought dead to the hospital. Officials told KNO that the slain Bank manager was married in February this year and was staying with his wife. The killing of Bank manager came a few days after militants shot dead a female government teacher Rajni Bala outside the school in Gopalpora, Kulgam.
Interestingly, the CCTV footage where in a shooter shooting at the Bank manager has gone viral on the social media. A police spokesman said that militants shot dead a Government Bank Employee in a gruesome “terror attack in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.”
Senior police officers along with reinforcement reached at the crime spot. “Officers attending the crime spot learnt that, at about 1100 am, militants had indiscriminately fired upon Manager of Ellaquai Dehati Bank identified as Vijay Kumar son of Om Prakash, resident of Hanumangarh Rajasthan, at Areh Mohanpora in Kulgam District. In this incident, he had received critical gunshot injuries and was immediately evacuated to hospital for the treatment of his injuries however, he succumbed to his injuries,” the spokesman said.
He said that the Police have registered a case in this regard under relevant sections of law. “Investigation is in progress and officers continue to work to establish the circumstances which lead to this terror crime. Area has been cordoned off and search in the area is going on,” the spokesman said.
He said that IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar along with DIG SKR Anantnag and DIG CRPF visited Kulgam district where he held meeting with Police and security forces officers. “The IGP Kashmir reviewed security scenario and instructed field officers to conduct surprise joint area domination in the day and night, to identify militant involved in today’s terror crime and neutralise him at the earliest,” the statement said, adding that “the IGP also directed to identify the militant associates who have been harbouring militants and arrest them on priority basis.”
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister and vice president NC Omar Abdullah while condemning the act said that condoling a death are becoming a mind numbingly regular thing.
“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 heart-breaking to see families destroyed like this.” tweeted Omar.
Former Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti also condemned killing.
“Condemn yet another targeted killing today of Vijay Kumar, a bank manager working in Kulgam. Heartfelt condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace,” tweeted Mehbooba Mufti.
“Yet again extremely sad news coming in. An innocent civilian working as a manager in a bank in Kulgam has been shot dead. Am at a loss of words to express my condemnation for such heinous acts. May the family have the courage to bear this loss. May the deceased rest in peace,” JKPC President Sajad Lone tweeted.
“It’s distressing to learn about the killing of a bank manager in Kulgam. Indeed a very sad situation where innocent civilians are being targeted. My heart goes out to the family of the deceased and I pray for immense strength for the bereaved family to bear this loss.” Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari tweeted.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said that NDA Government has failed to restore peace in Kashmir. He while condemning the attack on Rajasthan resident in Kulgam said that government of India must ensure the safety of citizens in Kashmir.
“The militant killing of bank manager Vijay Kumar, a resident of Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, working in Kulgam, J&K is highly condemnable. NDA Govt has failed to restore peace in Kashmir. Central Govt should ensure the safety of citizens in Kashmir,” tweeted Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot—(KNO)
