On Sunday, terrorists shot and killed a man from the Kashmiri Pandit community in the Achan area of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir. The victim was identified as Sanjay Sharma, an armed guard in his village. The incident marks yet another targeted killing in the valley. The police said that the terrorists opened fire on Sharma while he was on his way to the local market. He was immediately taken to a hospital, but unfortunately, succumbed to his injuries.
Following the attack, the area was cordoned off, and a hunt was launched to nab the assailants, as per officials. National Conference leader Omar Abdullah expressed his condolences to Sharma's family and condemned the attack on Twitter. He added that the victim was working as a bank security guard.
Last year, 14 people belonging to minority communities, including three Kashmiri Pandits, were killed in Jammu and Kashmir, according to Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai. Rai stated that the government has taken several measures to protect the lives of minorities, including group security in the form of static guards, day and night area domination, and round-the-clock 'nakas' at strategic points, among others.
Additionally, under the Prime Minister's Development Package for 2015, 3,000 government jobs for Kashmiri migrants have been created, of which 2,639 have been appointed in the last five years. Despite such measures, targeted killings of minority community members in Jammu and Kashmir continue to pose a significant threat to the region's peace and stability.
The incident has sparked outrage among the locals, and the police have vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. These targeted killings have created an atmosphere of fear among the minority communities, who feel insecure and vulnerable. The government must take strict action to prevent such attacks and provide adequate security to the minority communities in Jammu and Kashmir. The need of the hour is to ensure peace and stability in the region, which can only be achieved through dialogue, negotiations, and mutual understanding.