Sikh worker shot dead by terrorists in Srinagar; first targeted killing in Valley this year
Ahead of the beginning of the Shab-e-Meraj festivities, a Sikh carpenter from Amritsar in Punjab was shot dead in cold blood by ‘unidentified’ terrorists in the Shaheed Gunj area of Srinagar late Wednesday evening.
It is the first targeted killing of 2024.
Another civilian also received grievous injuries and was battling for life till the time of filing the report. Both the migrant workers were working as carpenters and earning their livelihood in the Kashmir valley.
Police have identified the deceased migrant worker as 31-year-old Amritpal Singh of Amritsar in Punjab. The injured civilian has been identified as 25-year-old Rohit Masiah, also a native of Amritsar in Punjab.
Rohit Masih succumbed to injuries at the SKIMS Hospital early Thursday. He was shifted to the tertiary care institution late Wednesday night after his condition worsened at the SMHS Hospital.
Since October 2023 only two incidents of targeted killings were reported from the valley.
A police inspector was attacked by the terrorists while he was playing cricket on October 29 and later a retired police officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police was killed in cold blood inside a religious place while he was offering prayers on December 24 in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
In 2023, a total number of 14 civilians were killed in different incidents of terrorist-related violence while 31 were killed in 2022, 41 in 2021, 38 in 2020, and 44 in 2019.
The killing of a Sikh carpenter has also sparked fresh fears in the minds of Kashmiri pandit migrant employees recruited under the Prime Minister’s package in Kashmir valley.
The migrant employees posted a message on X (earlier Twitter) saying, “After today’s target killing we are frightened. We request to take care of every KP PM Package employee working in the valley & pass the necessary directions for the administration to provide leniency in the working environment. Please do not exploit our urges & needs at the cost of our lives”.
In Jammu, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha strongly condemned the heinous terror attack on two civilians in Srinagar.
He extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of the civilian martyred in the attack and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
In a tweet, the Lt Governor said, “I am deeply shocked and saddened by the heinous terror attack in Srinagar on Amritpal & Rohit from Amritsar. I condemn in strongest terms this brutal act, which has snuffed out an innocent life. In this hour of grief, I convey my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.”
“We are praying for the speedy recovery of the injured Rohit. A team of doctors is doing their best to take care of him. No efforts will be spared to bring the perpetrators to justice. Directed the Civil & Police administration to ensure all assistance to the families.”
Mainstream politicians in Kashmir valley including JKPCC Chief Vikar Rasool Wani, National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah, PDP leaders Mehbooba Mufti and Sartaj Madni, JKAPNI party leader Altaf Bukhari, strongly condemned the killing of an innocent migrant worker from Punjab.
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Cowards of highest order, killing an ordinary carpenter to create fear ?
West says, those things happen daily in our main city streets, why worry about Kashmir ?
Cowards of highest order, killing an ordinary carpenter to create fear ?