‘Killers’ of Kashmiri Pandit Killed in Pulwama Encounter

Srinagar: Two militants who “shot dead” a Kashmiri Pandit in Achan village, Pulwama, on Sunday were killed in an encounter in Padgampora village of the same district on Tuesday, the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Police said. An Army soldier was killed and another wounded in the shootout.  

Kashmir ADGP Vijay Kumar told the media in Srinagar that one of the militants killed was identified as Aqib Mustaq Bhat, a resident of Pulwama (A category) who initially worked for the Hizbul Mujahideen but was later with Laskhar-e-Taiba’s (LeT) offshoot The Resistance Front (TRF).

“Killer of late Sanjay Sharma neutralised,” Kumar added.

#AwantiporaEncounterUpdate: Killed #terrorist identified as Aqib Mustaq Bhat of #Pulwama (A category). He initially worked for HM #terror outfit, nowadays he had been working with TRF. #Killer of late Sanjay Sharma #neutralised: ADGP Kashmir@JmuKmrPolice https://t.co/1EdTeobWYP

— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) February 28, 2023

The second militant was identified as Azaz Ahmed Bhat, who was affiliated with the Jaish e Mohammad (JeM), the police said adding that “incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, were found in his possession”

#AwantiporaEncounterUpdate: 01 more #terrorist killed (Total 02). #Incriminating materials including arms & ammunition recovered. #Search going on. Further details shall follow. https://t.co/1EdTeobWYP

— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) February 28, 2023

According to the police, the encounter started after security forces received information about the presence of the militants in the area.

TRF, according to security agencies, is mostly responsible for the targeted violence against minorities in the region. The government recently banned the TRF, which increased its activities after the abrogation of Article 370 and the scrapping Article 35A on August 5, 2019.

Sharma, employed as a bank security guard, is among the many Kashmiri Pandits killed in Kashmir since August 2019. Besides, Panchayat members, BJP workers, migrant labourers and people close to the establishment have been attacked.

The attacks have been widely condemned by political parties and civil society members, who have also accused the Centre of failing to handle the situation. 

Sharma was the first civilian killed in the Valley this year. More than 24 civilians have been killed in the region since last year, according to police data. The Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti (KPSS), a prominent rights advocacy group for Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley, in its latest statement called for the replacement of BJP leader and lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha.

Since January, seven militants have been killed with a relative decline in militancy in the past few months. However, incidents like Sharma’s killing continue to worsen the situation, especially against minorities, who have since demanded a relocation from their respective postings outside the Valley.