A youngster who earned his livelihood working in an amusement park killed by terrorists in Anantnag

Targeted killings continue in Kashmir; A daily wage labourer from Jammu shot dead

May 30, 2023

Incident reported a week after successful conduct of the G20 Working group meeting in Srinagar

Less than one week after the successful conduct of the G20 working group meeting in Srinagar, unidentified terrorists late Monday night ‘mercilessly’ shot dead a temporary employee, earning his livelihood as a daily wage worker at an amusement park, in the South Kashmir district of Anantnag.

The deceased has been identified as Deepak Kumar aka Deepu. He hailed from the Majalta area of Udhampur. He left behind his wife, ailing father, and his elder brother’s family.

The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha has approved an ex-gratia of Rs.5 lakh for the next of kin of Deepu.

This is the second incident of targeted killing in Kashmir this year.

Sanjay Sharma, a member of the Kashmiri Pandit community was killed in ‘cold blood’ by pumping bullets from a very close range in the busy market area of Achan in the South Kashmir district of Pulwama on February 26.

Last year, a total of 29 civilians were killed by terrorists, including 21 locals (six Hindus, including three Kashmiri Pandits, and 15 Muslims) and eight from other states.

According to police, terrorists fired upon one civilian, Deepu R/O Udhampur, working at a private circus mela at an amusement park near Janglaat Mandi in Anantnag late Monday evening. The injured was immediately rushed to a nearby Government Medical College hospital in Anantnag where he succumbed to his injuries.

Raju, the elder brother of Deepak Kumar said, “He was the sole bread earner of the family. My eyes have been defective for the last four years. My father is visually impaired, he can’t work. We are completely destroyed. We want justice”.

Working alongside Deepak Kumar, local workers said, “They were resting in their tents when they first heard sounds of gunshots. As we rushed out we saw him in a pool of blood. We rushed him to GMC Anantnag where doctors declared him dead“.

Immediately, after the incident came to light the local police and other security personnel cordoned off the entire area to track down the perpetrators behind the attack.

The killing, which came close on the heels of the successful culmination of the G20 Working group meeting in Srinagar has also triggered a fresh round of war of words between the mainstream political parties in Kashmir valley and the ruling dispensation at the Centre.

Peoples Democratic Party Chief and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti trained guns on the government of India’s policy. She tweeted, “Deeply anguished by yet another attack on an innocent civilian in Anantnag. Deepu eked out his living by working at an amusement park. My heart goes out to his family in this hour of grief. This speaks volumes about GOI’s policy which have been a monumental failure in J&K”.

The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha also condemned the terrorist attack on a civilian in Anantnag. He extends his condolences to the family of the martyred civilian Deepu. The Lt Governor said the government and the entire nation are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the family.

“Our security forces remain committed in their resolve to thwart the designs of terrorists and all efforts will be made to bring the perpetrators to justice,” the Lt Governor said.

Vice President of the National Conference and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted, “Pained by the news of yet another targeted attack against a civilian in the Anantnag area of South Kashmir. The murder of Deepak who worked with a traveling circus to earn an honest living is an abomination & I condemn this militant attack unreservedly. May Deepak’s soul rest in peace”.

A little-known outfit, Kashmir Freedom Fighter, believed to be a shadow outfit of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the killing.

Meanwhile, the mortal remains of Deepak Kumar arrived in his native Thial village of Majalta in Udhampur Tuesday afternoon.

A large number of local residents in Udhampur and in his native village raised anti-Pakistan slogans to register their anger against the targeted killing of an innocent. The last rites of Deepu Kumar were performed in the presence of local villagers, local politicians, and senior officers of the police and district administration.

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