According to eyewitnesses, two motorcycle-borne terrorists opened fire on Puran Krishan Bhat, a farmer, outside his house. Bhat was critically injured and succumbed to his injuries on the way to the local hospital. The deceased is survived by a son and daughter.
Jammu and Kashmir Police confirmed the incident on social media, tweeting that terrorists fired on a “civilian (minority) Shri Puran Krishan Bhat” while he was on his way to a orchard in Chowdari Gund. “He was immediately shifted to hospital for treatment where he #succumbed,” the Kashmir Zone police tweeted, adding the area was cordoned off.
#Terrorists fired upon a #civilian (minority) Shri Puran Krishan Bhat while he was on way to orchard in Chowdari Gu… https://t.co/DwACvqObTR
— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) 1665820984000
The police further said a search was in progress to locate the terrorists.
Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha condemned the attack on Bhat, terming it “a dastardly act of cowardice”.
Attack on Puran Krishan Bhat by terrorists in Shopian is a dastardly act of cowardice. My heartfelt condolences to… https://t.co/bjIdbD3Qpw
— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) 1665825287000
Bhat became the seventh pandit to fall prey to the targeted killings since 2020.
Before Bhat, the last targeted killing of a Kashmiri Pandit also took place in Shopian district in August when the terrorists had also injured the victim’s brother. The deceased was identified as 45-year-old Sunil Kumar Bhatt.
At present, a total of 6,514 Kashmiri Pandits reside in Kashmir valley, including 455 in Shopian.
