Banker And Laborer Shot Dead In Targeted Killings In J&K.

Terrorists truck again at the non-Kashmiri population in the valley on Thursday, killing 2 migrants, one of them with impunity by entering a bank branch and shooting dead the Rajasthani manager with a pistol and walking out.

In the morning, Vijay Kumar of Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, was shot dead inside an SBI-led Ellaquai Dehati Bank branch in Kulgam. He was the 8th victim of targeted killing in the Kashmir valley since May 1 and the 3rd non-Muslim govt employee to die in terrorist attacks carried out with increasing frequency.

The 2nd man to die was Dilkhush, a brick kiln laborer from Bihar who was shot dead at Magraypora in Chadoora, Budgam, on Thursday evening, the 9th non-local to be killed by terrorists. Goria, from Punjab, a second laborer was injured in the attack. The deceased bank manager, Vijay Kumar, had recently been posted to the bank’s Arreh Mohanpora branch in Kulgam, the police said. He had married in February this year.

A little-known terrorist outfit called “Kashmir Freedom Fighters” claimed responsibility for killing the bank manager. It said the Kulgam attack had been an “intelligence-based operation” and that “anyone involved in the demographic change of Kashmir will meet the same fate”.

The attacks on non-Kashmiri government employees have led to J&K lieutenant-governor Manoj Sinha ordering the shifting by June 6 of all migrant employees in the Union Territory to their respective district headquarters for safety.

CCTV footage revealed that a man in a T-shirt and trousers, believed to be a terrorist, entered the bank branch for the first time, perhaps to locate his target, the manager. The footage showed the terrorist aiming at Kumar from close range while the manager talked on his cell phone. He then emerged from the bank and re-entered with a pistol and a bag a few minutes later. Kumar was taken immediately to Kulgam district hospital, where he was declared brought dead, the police said.