J&K: Union Home Minister Amit Shah To Review Security Situation Today Amid Targeted Killings

In view of the recent spate of civilian deaths in the Kashmir Valley, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has called a high-level conference to examine the security situation in the Union Territory today.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

New Delhi: In light of the recent spate of civilian killings in the Kashmir Valley, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has scheduled a high-level meeting for today to assess the security situation in the Union Territory. In addition to key security officers, J&K LG Manoj Sinha will attend the meeting, news agency PTI reported.

The meeting follows the targeted killings of Hindu government personnel in the Valley, as well as the administration's preparations for the Amarnath Yatra, which begins this month.

Only two weeks ago, Shah convened a meeting to examine the Amarnath Yatra plans and the general security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. At least 16 targeted killings have occurred in Kashmir Valley this year, including police officers, teachers, and sarpanches.

Earlier on Thursday, two labourers from were shot at and injured by militants in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday night, officials informed news agency PTI. While one received a gunshot wound in his shoulder the other was hit in the palm at a place Bapora in Zudur area of Budgam.

This came hours after a 29-year-old bank manager hailing from Rajasthan was shot dead by a terrorist of banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) inside his office premises in South Kashmir's Kulgam district, making it eighth targeted killing in the Valley since May 1 and the third of a non-Muslim government employee. 

The man received grievous gunshot injuries and died on his way to hospital. 

Targeted killings increased after February 2021, when the son of the owner of Krishna Dhaba in Srinagar was shot inside his eatery. He died two days later in a hospital from his gunshot wounds.

M L Bindroo, a prominent pharmacist, was shot dead in his business on October 5, 2021, followed by the murders of school administrator Supinder Kour and teacher Deepak Chand in Sangam.

In the Valley last year, 182 militants and at least 35 civilians were murdered. Laborers from outside J&K were shot at and injured in at least three incidents.

(With Inputs From PTI)